Jessica Smith-Blockley received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in 2007. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2003 with a BA in Psychology, where she also competed in Nordic skiing. She received her OCS in 2009, became a COMT in 2012, and graduated from NAIOMT’s Fellowship program in 2015 to earn her FAAOMPT. She has been a Clinical Fellowship Instructor since 2015, and a Faculty Instructor since 2019. Jessica owns the private practice Ascend Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon.

Meaningful Mentors: Meet NAIOMT's Jessica Smith-Blockley
In the video series "Best of NAIOMT" teaching faculty Michael Lucido demonstrates key techniques from NAIOMT's core courses.
If you're looking for more manual therapy tips and guidance from practicing clinicians and instructors, we welcome you to explore our video series "Best of NAIOMT." The series features NAIOMT faculty member, Michael Lucido, demonstrating key techniques from NAIOMT's core courses.
In this week's video, Michael discusses the practice and theory of chronic elbow pain. He demonstrates the theory known as the "abducted ulna," which is taught in NAIOMT’s course C-626 Upper Extremity.
In the video series "Best of NAIOMT" teaching faculty Michael Lucido demonstrates key techniques from NAIOMT's core courses.
In this video, Michael demonstrates the examination and treatment of a patient with anterior shoulder pain by addressing muscle imbalance of the scapula. This technique is taught in NAIOMT’s course C-626 Upper Extremity.
Mastery in Manual Therapy – No, Manual Therapy Doesn’t Suck
A recent editorial1 and several related articles in the July issue of JMMT really got me thinking about the clinical use of manual therapy and perceptions about its use amongst our colleagues. I was also disappointed in a recent conversation I had with an Osteopathic physician (a recent graduate from their curriculum) who stated “Oh, I didn’t know that Physical Therapist’s performed articulations…”. This physician’s practice is focused on Osteopathic Manual Therapy care.
In the latest episode of You Think You Know: Conversations That Inspire, Steve Allen meets with NAIOMT faculty instructor Ann Porter Hoke. Listen as Ann shares stories about growing up in Southern England, what brought her to physical therapy and her experience starting her career in London working for Dr. James Cyriax. She also shares how she ended up in North America and reflects on the early days of NAIOMT.
Michael Lucido's "Best of NAIOMT" - Ankle Pain Case Study
In the video series "Best of NAIOMT" teaching faculty Michael Lucido demonstrates key techniques from NAIOMT's core courses.
In this video, Michael discusses a short case study of an athlete with an ankle "sprain" diagnosis. The case study shows how this patient received an outstanding outcome by incorporating the "quadrant" system into his treatment.
This content is taught in NAIOMT’s courses C-621 Lower Extremity and C-705 Advanced Lower Quadrant Integration.
Michael Lucido's Best of NAIOMT: "Facilitated” Elbow Pain
In the video series "Best of NAIOMT" teaching faculty Michael Lucido demonstrates key techniques from NAIOMT's core courses. In this video, Michael demonstrates the examination and treatment of a patient with lateral elbow pain with a cervical component. This practice and theory is taught in our NAIOMT’s courses C-616 Cervical Spine II and C-715 Advanced Upper Quadrant Integration.
Steve Allen is the founder of Evergreen Physical Therapy in Spokane and retired shareholder and clinic director at Therapeutic Associates, Inc. in Liberty Lake, Washington. Steve received his Board Certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 1986 and is a 1996 graduate of the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy.
What drew you to PT as a career? When and how did you start your journey?
New Online Course - The Hip-Spine Connection: Unraveling the Mystery
Do you ever find it complex and frustrating to effectively treat patients with lumbopelvic pain? NAIOMT teaching faculty, Michael Lucido, guides you through common stumbling blocks in the new online course "The Hip-Spine Connection: Unraveling the Mystery," and demonstrates how the hip can be the culprit of low back pain.