Melissa holds a Masters Degree in Physiotherapy from Dalhousie University (2010) and an Honors Bachelors degree in Kinesiology from Memorial University of Newfoundland (2007). She worked in Edmonton, Alberta in the private sector for nearly a decade, returning to the island mid 2020, and is excited to join the team at Back on Track!
Melissa has worked with hundreds of clients of all ages providing them with education and encouragement to achieve their rehabilitation goals. She has treated various acute and chronic orthopedic conditions including injuries from slip and fall, sports, work, motor vehicle accidents, gradual onset pain, and many other conditions.
Melissa’s treatments consist of a strong education component, manual therapy, exercise, and therapeutic modalities as needed. She also has advanced training and experience treating concussions and vestibular (dizziness) issues such as BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which is often a result of the displacement of crystals in the inner ear causing dizziness when in certain positions.
Melissa loves to learn and focused on continuing education during her time in Alberta, taking many post-graduate courses to enhance her skills and stay current with the latest research and best patient care:
– CBI (Canadian Back Institute) Health Group: Treating the Patient with Pain Disorder (2012)
– CBI Health Group: Level 1 Spinal Assessment & Treatment (2011/2012)
-The Dizziness and Balance rehabilitation Clinic: Vestibular Rehabilitation-A Comprehensive Introduction (2014)
-The Dizziness and Balance Clinic: Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation (2020)
-Concussion Rehab Works Inc.: Concussion Management Workshop Level 1 (2020)
– Swodeam Institute: Certified Manual Therapist (2018)
-Mulligans Lower Quadrant Mobilization with Movement (2016)
-Mulligans Upper Quadrant Mobilizations with movement (2015)
-Selective Functional Movement Assessment (2017)
– Swodeam Institute: The MVA Accident Patient (2016)
-K Taping Pro (2014)
-Principles of Shoulder Exercise & Rehabilitation by Shoulder Specialist Lyn Watson (2017)
-APTEI (Advanced Physical Therapy Educational Institute) for the following:
Temporomandibular (TMJ) Joint (2016)
The Foot and Ankle Complex (2015)
Elbow, Wrist & Hand (2015)
Cervical Spine Articular Dysfunctions (2015)
Cervical Spine Neural Tissue Mechanosensitivity (2015)
The Hip Complex (2013)
The shoulder Complex (2013)
The Advanced Physical Therapy Lumbo-pelvic Complex Certification (2014).
Melissa has also developed a passion for yoga and felt a strong need to integrate this into her practice. Getting individuals on their mats, breathing, and focusing enables them to become more connected with their bodies. Stepping away from the demands of life to move and breathe in a way that eases stress, goes hand in hand with physical therapy. She completed her first 200 HR yoga teacher training with world-renowned yoga instructor Rachel Brathen, known as Yoga Girl. The purpose of her classes is to not only deepen a connection to ourselves, but with the people around us.
In 2020 she completed another 200hr yoga training called the LYT method. The LYT method was created by International Yoga Teacher and Physical Therapist Lara Heimann. It is heavily rooted in anatomy and focuses on optimizing alignment so you can function and move at your best. LYT yoga is an intense movement experience that systematically overrides the patterns of compensation and poor habits through the exploration of brain mapping and purposeful movement.
In her free time, Melissa loves doing anything outdoors, especially movement-related fun! Daily movement activities are important to her, in addition to her daily yoga and meditation practices. She also loves to read and am obsessed with books!
Melissa looks forward to meeting you in the clinic and working together to create a life where you can live and move optimally.
Melissa is a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and is registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Physiotherapists.
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