MICHAEL F. WARD
PT, OCS
Michael was born and raised in the Lewis-Clark Valley. He completed his pre-physical therapy education at Washington State University. He received his Physical Therapy degree in 1984 at the University of Washington. After graduation he worked as a staff therapist at Latah Care Center in Moscow, Idaho, until he moved to San Antonio, Texas. While in San Antonio he had the opportunity to work and study under his mentor in manual therapy, Dr. Steven Stratton at Alamo Physical Therapy. Three years after moving back to Lewiston he joined Bill Neumayer, founder of S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy, as a partner in 1992. Michael’s clinical experience and expertise, as well as his postgraduate studies have centered in general orthopedics, low back and neck care, manual therapy, sports medicine, hand therapy and TMJ. In addition, he has developed and integrated on-site strategies and directives for industrial injury prevention.
In 2003 Michael obtained his Isernhagen Certification for performing Functional Capacity. He obtained his board certification as an Orthopedic Specialist in 2014. He has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 1984 and has served as the chairman of the North-Central Idaho District Physical Therapy Association. He is also active in his community and has served on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and is presently serving on the leadership board at River City Church of Lewiston, Idaho.
His interests and passions involve his faith in Jesus, family and friends. He loves spending time with his wife Debbie and their four children (Jeff, Jacque, Stephen, Connor) and his seven grandchildren. He enjoys time in the outdoors camping, hunting, fly fishing, wake surfing and snow skiing.
KELLY A. STEIGER
PT, OCS, SCS, CSCS, CIDN, FMS
Kelly has committed his practice to orthopedics using the best evidence-based approach possible. “I enjoy helping patients return to their prior level of activity, whether it be sports, work, or daily activity. Seeing them reach their goals is one of the best parts of being a Physical Therapist.”
Kelly received his degree in Physical Therapy from Eastern Washington University in 1993 and joined S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy in 1994.
– Board Certified in Orthopedics (OCS)
– Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS)
– Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
– Certified in Dry Needling (CIDN)
Extensive Continuing Education in the following areas:
– Returning to play
– Blood flow restriction
– Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
– Kinesiology taping
Kyle Knigge,
DPT
Kyle was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, and moved to Lewiston his freshman year of high school. He completed his undergraduate studies at Lewis-Clark State College, where he also played baseball for the Warriors for 4 years. He graduated from LCSC in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology and then worked at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy from 2015-2017 as a physical therapy aide. He got accepted to Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where he graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in May 2020.
Kyle feels honored to return to a place where he will be surrounding himself with knowledgeable and experienced physical therapists to help further his passion for helping individuals regain function and help make a difference in someone’s life. This is a small way for him to give back to his community after being greatly supported by the LC Valley when playing for the LC Warriors. It is his personal goal to be involved with community events and show his appreciation for what the Valley and S.P.O.R.T. have done for him. He is interested in specializing in orthopedic and vestibular physical therapy.
Being outdoors is what Kyle loves to do in his free time, particularly camping, fishing, and hiking with his wonderful wife, Lexie, and his dog Boone.
NATHAN B. MARTIN
DPT, OCS, CERT. MDT, CIDN
Nate was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho, and joined the S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy staff in 2014. He began his undergraduate studies and played baseball at Columbia Basin College and then completed his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science/Pre-Physical Therapy at the University of Idaho. He then received a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Pacific University in 2010. Following graduation, Nate moved to Boise, Idaho, and worked at an outpatient physical therapy clinic where he also served as the rehab director and clinic administrator.
In 2013 Nate completed post-graduate work and became certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT) with an emphasis on spinal rehabilitation. He has also been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Idaho Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) since 2010. Nate is active in the community and serves as a member of the LC Crew, a non-profit organization that fulfills the needs of philanthropic opportunities in the Lewis-Clark Valley. Nate also serves on the committee for the LC Valley Down and Dirty Mud Run, which is a nonprofit organization committed to provide racers the opportunity to participate in the regions only obstacle course race.
Outside of the clinic, Nate enjoys most anything sports related, including golf, baseball, softball, football, and snowboarding. He also enjoys coaching and mentoring children through youth sports, and spending his free time with his children, Paisley and Emmett.
Roni V. Hewett
DPT, OCS, CIDN, ABI-VRC
Roni Hewett, DPT, OCS, CIDN, ABI-VRC was born and raised in the Lewis-Clark Valley, graduating from Clarkston High School in 2011. She then went to Hawaii on a sports scholarship, graduating from Chaminade University of Honolulu with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology in 2015. She worked as an aide at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy before going on to physical therapy school in Arizona. Roni graduated from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019.
Roni is very excited to be the latest member of the S.P.O.R.T. team and looks forward to serving her community for all their mobility needs. Roni is interested in specializing in orthopedic physical therapy and is grateful for the opportunity to work with other Orthopedic Certified Specialists here at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy.
STEPHANIE THORNE,
PTA
Stephanie was born in Illinois and grew up in a suburb of Chicago and later moved to Louisville, Kentucky. She received her Associates Of Applied Sciences degree and Physical Therapist Assistant licensure near Chicago, Illinois in 2012, which is where she got her start in outpatient and home health physical therapy. She later worked for a traveling physical therapy company in Colorado and eventually made her way out to Spokane/Coeur D’Alene, which is where her and her family decided to stay because they fell in love with the area. After working in a skilled nursing facility for several years, she was eager to get back into an outpatient setting and made the move to Lewiston in June 2021 to pursue her career at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy.
Stephanie, her fiancé Zack, and their little boys Niko and Leo love to be outdoors and spending time together. Rarely are they found without each other. They love camping, hiking, exploring new areas, and historical sites.
Stephanie has loved her experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She has treated patients of every age from pediatrics to geriatrics. She has worked with people in an outpatient setting, in homes/group homes for special needs, and skilled nursing homes. Stephanie values compassion and quality of care and is very grateful for the opportunity to work with the skilled therapists here at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy. She is very excited to meet and provide service to all the people of the LC Valley and surrounding areas.
Jessica Medeiros
PTA
Jessica grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Idaho where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Resources in 2018.
After working in the fisheries industry for a few years, she moved to Lewiston in 2020, where she started working as a physical therapy aide at S.P.O.R.T. Physical Therapy. She quickly realized her passion was in helping people and made the decision to continue her education and become a physical therapy assistant. She was accepted into the PTA program at Lewis-Clark State College in 2021 and recently graduated in 2023.
Jessica is very excited to work alongside an amazing team of therapists and to continue to learn as much as possible to help the community.
She enjoys outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding.
Juanita Hambright
OT
Juanita was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia. She came to the United States when she was 18 years old to play college golf at Lewis-Clark State College. She majored in Biology with an emphasis on Pre-Medicine.
After completing her Bachelor’s, she went on to Eastern Washington University where she obtained a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Juanita returned to the Valley after graduate school and worked at St. Joseph’s in the outpatient department, mainly treating pediatric patients, but she also had the opportunity to work with some adult patients with hand injuries, which is when she realized her interest was in hand therapy.
She moved to Tri-Cities for 6 years, during which time she had the opportunity to work in a very fast-paced orthopedic clinic with experienced physical/occupational therapists and surgeons who mentored her. She took a variety of continuing education courses covering the depth and breadth of hand therapy. After that enriching experience, Juanita and her family decided to move back to the Valley to be closer to family.
Juanita is married to Kyle and they have two girls, Elena and Isabel. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys anything that involves being outdoors, including hiking, camping, and backpacking. Other hobbies include baking, gardening, and traveling.
She is very excited and honored to be part of S.P.O.R.T Physical Therapy and to serve this community.