Ashley Smith

PT

Clinical Locations

Languages Spoken

Ashley is an Australian trained physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience. He was admitted as a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2001 and recognized as a Clinical Specialist in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Canada) in 2011. Academically, Ashley completed his PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the RECOVER Injury Research Centre within the University of Queensland, Australia.

He continues to be actively involved in research, investigating the mechanisms responsible for persistent pain in individuals following road traffic trauma and determining which clinical features can be modulated with different treatment modalities. He is also involved in research evaluating the role of orthobiologics in improving treatment outcomes. Faculty appointments at the University of Calgary and McMaster University help facilitate these ambitions. At the root of Ashley’s passion for research is helping to improve outcomes for patients to enrich their lives.

Ashley is excited to be part of the Vivo Cura team, realizing a lifetime ambition to work with an integrated, multidisciplinary team of specialists determined to provide the ‘right treatment at the right time’–customized to the patient to optimize their recovery.

Practice Interests

  • Non-hospitalized road traffic collision injuries
  • Cervical spine pain and/or headaches
  • Nociplastic pain / Central Sensitization modulation
  • Non Invasive Brain Stimulation – transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) 
  • Difficult tendinopathies

Education History

Selected Publications

  • Smith A, Gupta A, Stone J, Schneider G.  The Efficacy of Multimodal Physiotherapy and Usual Care in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders With Facet-Mediated Pain Undergoing Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment: A Series of Single Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs). Eur J Physio (Accepted for Publication Mar 4, 2024)
  • Jasper L, Van Brunschot G, Smith A. Effects of Physical Activity and Sitting on Health Outcomes in Adults with Whiplash Associated Disorders. Eur J Physio https://doi.org/10.1080/21679169.2023.2284735 (Accepted for Publication November 11, 2023)
  • Smith A, Gupta A, Stone J, Schneider G.  Effectiveness of Conservative Multimodal Physiotherapy vs Usual Care in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders With Facet-mediated Pain Undergoing Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment: A Series of Single Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs). medRxiv https://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.10.16.23296769v1 doi: 10.1101/2023.10.16.23296769 (Accepted for Publication October 19, 2023)
  • Smith A, Sydora D, Burnham R. Derivation of a Clinical Decision Rule for a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injection in Knee Osteoarthritis. Regen Med. 2023 Jun;18(6):461-470. doi: 10.2217/rme-2023-0014. Epub 2023 May 21.PMID: 37211834
  • Smith A, Andruski B, Deng G, Burnham R. Cervical Facet Joint Platelet-Rich Plasma in People With Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Prospective Case Series of Longer-Term 6- and 12- Month Outcomes. Int Pain Med Volume 2, Issue 1, 27 February 2023, 100237 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpm.2023.100237
  • Jobin K, Campbell C, Schabrun S, Smith A, Debert C.  The Safety and Feasibility of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Conservative Treatment for Cervicogenic Headaches: A double-blinded randomized control study. Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2327509/v1
  • Smith A, Andruski B, Deng G, Burnham R. The Association Between Sleep Disturbance and Health Outcomes in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Series of Mediation Analyses. Clin J Pain 2022 Oct;38(10):612-619. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001066
  • Burnham R, Smith A, Burnham T, Pan B, Al Hamarneh Y, Amatto A.  An assessment of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for the Pain Disability Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Spine.  Int Pain Med (Accepted for publication Jun 16, 2022)
  • White L, Smith A, Farrell S. Associations Between Resting Heart Rate, Resting Blood Pressure, Psychological Variables and Pain Processing in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pain Med https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnac075 (Accepted for publication May 19, 2022)
  • Amatto L, Smith A, Pan B, Al Hamarneh Y, Burnham T, Burnham R.  An Assessment of the Clinically Important Difference for the Pain Disability Quality-Of-Life Questionnaire-Spine. Int Pain Med Volume 1, Issue 3, September 2022, 100116 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpm.2022.100116
  • Burnham R, Amatto L, Smith A, Burnham T, Amatto A.  An assessment of the validity and responsiveness of the Numerical Rating Scale Version of the Pain Disability Quality-Of-Life Questionnaire-Spine. Int Pain Med Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2022, 100087 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpm.2022.100087
  • Smith A, Andruski B, Deng G, Burnham R. Cervical Facet Joint Platelet-Rich Plasma in People With Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Prospective Case Series of Short-Term Outcomes. Int Pain Med Volume 1, Issue 2. June 2022, 100078 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpm.2022.100078
  • Deng G, Smith A, Burnham R. Prospective Within Subject Comparison of Fluoroscopically Guided Lumbosacral Facet Joint Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Multi-tined (Trident) versus Conventional Monopolar Cannula. Pain Phys (Accepted for publication Jan 25, 2022)
  • Haik M, Evans K, Smith A, Bisset L. Investigating the effects of mobilization with movement and exercise on pain modulation processes in shoulder pain – a single cohort pilot study with short-term follow up. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2022.2030626 (Accepted for publication Jan 14, 2022)
  • Burnham R, Smith A, Hart D. The safety and effectiveness of bone marrow concentrate injection for knee and hip osteoarthritis: a Canadian cohort. Regen Med doi: 10.2217/rme-2021-0001 (Published online: 30 June 2021)
  • Burnham T, Smith A, McCormick, Z, Teramoto, M, Burnham R. Evaluation of an Ultrasound-Assisted Longitudinal Axis Lateral Crest Approach to Radiofrequency Ablation of the Sacroiliac Joint. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001733 (Accepted for publication Feb 16, 2021)
  • Smith A, Ritchie C, Warren J, Sterling M. Exercise induced hypoalgesia is impaired in chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) with both aerobic and isometric exercise.  Clin J Pain – CJP-D-19-00318R1 (Accepted for publication May 4, 2020)
  • Ritchie C, Smith A, Sterling M. Medical and allied health service use during acute and chronic post-injury periods in whiplash injured individuals.  BMC Health Services Research – BHSR-D-19-02645R3 (Accepted for publication Mar 24, 2020)
  • Ralph S, Weissenberger A, Bonev V, King L, Bonham M, Ferguson S, Smith A, Goodman-Jones A, Espinet A. Phase I/II parallel double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of perispinal etanercept for chronic stroke: improved mobility and pain alleviation. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs https://doi.org/10.1080/13543784.2020.1709822  (Accepted for publication Dec 24, 2019.  Published online: Jan 3, 2020)
  • Smith A, Schneider G. Author’s Response to “The Whole Pie? Maybe-But Let’s Compare Apples With Apples” J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019;49(11):866–867.  doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.0202
  • Smith A, Schneider G. Invited Editorial – Viewpoint: Psychological manifestations and chronic pain in whiplash-associated disorder mechanisms: The whole pie, please. JOSPT. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019;49(3):118-121. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.0603
  • Farrell S, Smith A, Hancock M, Webb A, Sterling M. Cervical spine findings on MRI in people with neck pain compared with pain-free controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Magnetic Research Imaging J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019 Jan 5. doi: 10.1002/jmri.26567. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30614121
  • Haik M, Evans K, Smith A, Henriquez L, Bisset L. People with musculoskeletal shoulder pain demonstrate no signs of altered pain processing. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Nov 15;39:32-38. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2018.11.008. [Epub ahead of print]  PMID: 30471479
  • Harvie D, Sterling M, Smith A. Do pain-associated contexts increase pain sensitivity? An investigation using virtual reality. Scan J Pain 2018 Apr 30 pii: /j/sjpain.ahead-of-print/sjpain-2017-0165/sjpain-2017-0165.xml. doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2017-0165 [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29794263
  • Harris S, Sterling M, Farrell S, Pedler A, Smith A.  The Influence of Isometric Exercise on Endogenous Pain Modulation: Comparing Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia and Offset Analgesia in Young, Active Adults. Scan J Pain 2018 Mar 30. pii: /j/sjpain.ahead-of-print/sjpain-2017-0177/sjpain-2017-0177.xml. doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2017-0177. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29794265
  • Campbell L, Smith A, McGregor L, Sterling M.  Psychological Factors and the Development of Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder(s): A Systematic Review.  Clin J Pain. 2018 Feb 21. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000597. [Epub ahead of print]  PMID: 29470185
  • Bisset L, Carty M, Smith A.  Endogenous pain modulation is impaired in lateral epicondylalgia: a case control observational Study. Clin J Pain 2018 Apr 3. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000615. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Harvie D, Edmond-Hanks G, Smith A.  Tactile acuity is reduced in people with chronic neck pain. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2018 Feb;33:61-66. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.009. Epub 2017 Nov 21.
  • Smith A & Pedler A. Effect of occlusion cuff conditioning stimulus intensity and duration on conditioned pain modulation. Eur J Pain 2018 Jan;22(1):94-102. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1093. Epub 2017 Aug 14. PMID: 28805288
  • Smith A, López-Solà M, Pedler A, McMahon K, Sterling M. Multivariate Pattern Analysis Utilizing Structural or Functional MRI – In Individuals With Musculoskeletal Pain and Healthy Controls: A Systematic Review. Seminars in Arthritis 2017 Dec;47(3):418-431. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2017.06.005. Epub 2017 Jun 15. Review. PMID: 28729156
  • Smith A, Carlow K, Biddulph T, Murray B, Paton M, Harvie DS. Contextual modulation of pain sensitivity utilising virtual environments. Br J Pain. 2017 May; 11(2): 71-80. doi: 10.1177/2049463717698349. Epub 2017 Mar 15
  • Smith A, Ritchie C, Pedler A, McCamley K, Roberts K, Sterling M.  Exercise induced hypoalgesia is elicited by isometric, but not aerobic exercise in individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorders.  Scand J Pain. 2017 15: 14-21 doi: 10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.11.007. Epub 2016 Dec 6. PMID: 28850338 . (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.11.007)
  • Walton D, Kwok T, Mehta S, Loh E, Smith A, Elliott J, Kamper S, Kasch H, Sterling M. Cluster Analysis of an International Pressure Pain Threshold Database Identifies 4 Meaningful Subgroups of Adults With Mechanical Neck Pain.  Clin J Pain. 2017 May;33(5):422-428. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000421. PMID: 27518490
  • Smith A, Jull G, Schneider G, Frizzell B, Hooper A, Sterling M.  Modulation of Cervical Facet Joint Nociception and Pain Attenuates Physical and Psychological Features of Chronic Whiplash: A Prospective Study.  PM&R 2015 Sep;7(9):913-21. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.03.014. Epub 2015 Mar 21. PMID: 25805617  
  • Smith A, Jull G, Schneider G, Frizzell B, Hooper A, Sterling M.  Low Pain Catastrophization and Disability Predicts Successful Outcome to Radiofrequency Neurotomy in Individuals with Chronic Whiplash. Pain Pract. 2015 Jan 9. doi: 10.1111/papr.12282 [Epub ahead of print]
  • Smith A, Jull G, Schneider G, Frizzell B, Hooper A, Sterling M.  Cervical Radiofrequency Neurotomy Reduces Psychological Features in Individuals with Chronic Whiplash. Pain Physician, 2014 May-Jun 17(3): 265-274. PMID: 24850108.
  • Schneider G, Jull G, Thomas K, Smith A, Emery C, Faris, P, Cook C, Frizzell B, Salo P. Derivation of a clinical decision guide in the diagnosis of cervical facet joint pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2014 Mar 21. pii: S0003-9993(14)00208-1. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.02.026. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24662813.
  • Smith A, Jull G, Schneider G, Frizzell B, Hooper A, Sterling M.  Cervical Radiofrequency Neurotomy Reduces Central Hyperexcitability and Improves Neck Movement in Individuals with Chronic Whiplash. Pain Med, 2014 Jan; 15(1): 128-141 doi: 10.1111/pme.12262. Epub 2013 Oct 18
  • Smith A, Jull G, Schneider G, Frizzell B, Hooper A, Sterling M.  A Comparison of Physical and Psychological Features of Responders and Non-Responders to Cervical Facet Blocks in Chronic Whiplash. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2013 Nov 4: 14(1):313 doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-313
  • Schneider GM, Jull G, Thomas K, Smith A, Emery C, Faris P, Schneider K, Salo P.  Response to Commentary on Our Article Titled “Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of Select Clinical Tests in Patients Referred for Diagnostic Facet Joint Blocks in the Cervical Spine”. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2013; 94(8): 1638-1640.
  • Schneider GM, Jull G, Thomas K, Smith A, Emery C, Faris P, Schneider K, Salo P.  Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of Select Clinical Tests in Patients Referred for Diagnostic Facet Joint Blocks in the Cervical Spine. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2013; 94(8):1628-1634. pii: S0003-9993(13)00140-8. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.02.015
  • Schneider G, Smith A, Schneider K, Westaway M, Hooper A, Frizzell B, Stratford P, Olson L.  Minimizing the Source of Nociception and its Concurrent Effect on Central Hypersensitivity:  A Clinical Trial in Chronic Whiplash Patients.  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2010: 11:29 doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-29 (Highly Accessed)


Book Chapters

  • Smith A. Section 4.1, Chapter 42: Is a Tissue Lesion Important for Symptom Maintenance? Grieve’s Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Fourth Edition (2015)

Ashley Smith

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy