meet the team

Chiropractic Physician

Stephen Kyle Burtenshaw D.C.

Founder of Pioneer Sports & Pain Center, Dr. Burtenshaw practices in Kuna, Idaho, where he specializes in chiropractic sports medicine and the treatment of orthopedic, auto, and work-related injuries.

A graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, he trained under Dr. Dave Juehring, a U.S. Olympic Bobsled team member and director of Palmer’s Sports Injury & Rehabilitation Department, completing a year-long internship focused on spine and orthopedic rehabilitation.

Dr. Burtenshaw has provided care for professional and community athletes including the late Boise Burn arena football team, Idaho Stampede (NBA D-League), Ballet Idaho, and local triathletes and runners. He has worked with top Ironman athletes, Boise State football athletes and 5 star D1 College recruits. He currently works locally with high school and middle school athletes in Kuna and the Boise, Nampa and Meridian areas.

With prior experience at St. Luke’s Idaho Elk Rehabilitation and St. Alphonsus Outpatient Rehab, Dr. Burtenshaw values an integrative, evidence-based approach, collaborating with physicians in family medicine, neurosurgery, and orthopedics to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. His leadership and innovative philosophy earned him recognition in the Idaho Business Review’s “40 under 40.”

With post graduate training in treatments such as Dry Needling, Myofascial release and Graston Technique, he provides advanced soft tissue therapy and rehabilitation for spine and extremity injuries.

Outside of practice, he is dedicated to family, faith, and community, and enjoys coaching, watching and playing sports with his kids. His favorite sports are Football, Basketball and Golf. He enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing and riding dirtbikes.

Chiropractic Physician

Dustin Elliott D.C.

Dr. Elliott grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho enjoying good family, friends, sports and his community. Life experiences and opportunities led him to seek out a health care profession where he could be surrounded by those things mentioned above. He and his wife are excited to be in and raise their baby daughter in the treasure valley, an area they’ve been looking forward to live in for years.

Dr. Elliott is a highly skilled and compassionate chiropractic physician with a deep commitment to helping others, especially those dealing with spine and orthopedic injuries. Growing up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, he developed a strong sense of community and a passion for sports, which later influenced his decision to pursue a career in healthcare. Dr. Elliott’s personal experiences with chiropractic care shaped his desire to offer others the same healing and relief he had benefited from.

He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon, after completing his undergraduate studies in Exercise Physiology and Spanish at BYU-Idaho. His educational background has cultivated a passion for conservative treatment methods, which he employs to help his patients achieve optimal health and recovery.

Dr. Elliott’s qualifications include being a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician, certified in Dry Needling, and Board Certified in Physiotherapy i.e., exercise therapy, electrical stimulation, hot/cold therapy. He is also a certified provider of the Graston Technique for the spine and extremities and has earned certification in Rock Tape for kinesiology taping.

Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Elliott’s cultural experiences, including serving an LDS mission in Santiago, Chile, have allowed him to work closely with the Hispanic community for over seven years, further enhancing his ability to connect with a diverse patient base. He and his wife, along with their three children, strive to instill patience and love in their family life, continually inspired by the lessons their children teach them.

Physician Assistant

Chelsea Heffner, MPAS, PA-C

Chelsea Heffner is a board-certified Physician Assistant with extensive experience in orthopedics and sports medicine. An Idaho native, she specializes in regenerative and non-surgical joint care, including PRP and hyaluronic acid injections, with a patient-centered focus on reducing pain, restoring mobility, and helping patients stay active and return to the activities they enjoy.

Chelsea completed her undergraduate education at the College of Idaho before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. Following graduate school, she practiced in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine in Seattle, gaining extensive experience in musculoskeletal evaluation, injury management, and procedural care. After a decade in orthopedics, she returned to Boise to continue serving patients closer to home.

At Pioneer Sports & Spine, Chelsea serves as part of the medical team, specializing in regenerative and non-surgical joint care. She provides joint injections, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid, with a focus on improving joint function, reducing pain, and supporting long-term mobility. She values a collaborative, integrated approach and works closely with chiropractic and physical therapy providers to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient’s goals.

Chelsea is committed to helping patients stay active and return to the activities they enjoy, whether that means optimizing performance, recovering from injury, or managing chronic joint conditions. She also values overall patient wellness and has a passion for dermatology and aesthetics, bringing a well-rounded perspective to patient care.

Outside of the clinic, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her family and embracing the Idaho lifestyle through hiking, rafting, paddle boarding, gardening, and riding off-road vehicles. She also enjoys content creation and traveling in her time away from the clinic.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Cara Carpenter, DPT

Cara is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 19 years of experience specializing in general orthopedics and sports injuries. She’s worked with patients of all ages in outpatient and home health settings, including collaborations with top orthopedic surgeons, professional sports team physicians, and the US Army.

Cara is passionate about one-on-one, quality care, combining manual therapy with functional, sport-specific exercises to help her patients return to the activities they love.

Cara received her undergraduate degree in Applied Health and Science in her hometown in MT and then pursued graduate work at Pacific University in Oregon where she earned both her Master’s and Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy. Her primary area of specialty is general orthopedics and sports injuries. She has over 19 years experience working with patients of all ages in both the outpatient orthopedic and home health settings. Cara has spent time in her career as a contract traveling therapist where she was able to meet and work with different Orthopedic surgeon groups. She had the privilege to serve a term Civilian outpatient, orthopedic PT position for the US Army in Fort Lewis, WA, treating acute, pre-and post operative conditions for the active duty soldiers. Her last traveling assignment landed her in Atlanta, GA where she stayed 12 years enjoying the Southern culture and people. She had the opportunity to work at a clinic with the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks team orthopedic physicians. Cara also served as a orthopedic manager for one of the largest orthopedic groups in the Metro Atlanta area where she had to opportunity to work closely with some of the top orthopedic surgeons and physicians in the group. Her treatment philosophy incorporates a combinations of manual therapy and evidenced based functional and sport specific exercises. Cara believes in quality one on one care when treating her clients and assisting them through their recovery.

Although she enjoyed the South, she and her husband wanted to return to the Pacific NW closer to their family. Boise was her home after graduate school in 2000, and she is happy to call it home once again. Cara enjoys traveling with her husband, working out, being active outdoors, and watching football.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Dee Melton, DPT

Danielle (“Dee”) is a dedicated Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 10 years of experience in outpatient orthopedics. Her career has taken her across the U.S. and around the world—from clinical work in New Zealand, Italy, and Peru to treating Navajo patients in New Mexico.

Dee is trained in Trigger Point Dry Needling, Blood Flow Restriction Training, Running Gait Analysis, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Now based in Boise, she brings a rich global perspective and a passion for helping patients move, heal, and thrive.

Danielle (who goes by Dee), received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Elmhurst College in the suburbs of Chicago near where she grew up. During that program, she studied abroad at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She then received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri. There, she had the opportunity to do a medical missions trip to Peru and worked a clinical rotation in Tuscany, Italy.

After she graduated, she was ready to get out of the mid-west and head towards the mountains. She started her career as a traveling physical therapist and landing at an outpatient orthopedic setting in Farmington, New Mexico. A large chunk of her caseload was working with the Navajo Native Americans where she had to opportunity to learn all about their culture and perspective on life. She also was trained and got certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling while she was out there.

After meeting her now husband, they moved to Albuquerque where she worked at another outpatient clinic. A series of events let her to Kennewick, Washington and then Boise, Idaho. She and her husband love traveling and they have spent time traveling for months in Latin America as well as visiting other countries all over the world. During two months in Peru on her travels, she had the opportunity to live at a church and give free physical therapy to poor, mentally, and physically disabled Peruvians in Lima. Danielle is currently living in Boise with her husband and they are in the process of adopting children from Ecuador! She spends her time being active outdoors with her husband, learning Spanish, traveling, and hanging out with women talking about Jesus.

Danielle has worked in outpatient orthopedics for over 10 years and has been trained in:

Trigger Point Dry Needling
Blood Flow Restriction Training
Certified Running Gait Analyst level 1 and 2
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

Emily Peterson

Emily moved from Northern Idaho, where she grew up, to the Treasure Valley in 2017. She graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in zoology. After a few years working with animals, she found the chiropractic world, and there developed an interest in billing and pursued that. She loves reading, especially while eating chocolate, and enjoys hiking, boating, and being outside.

Matti Burtenshaw

Matti has lived in both Kuna and McCall over the years. She currently serves as our Rehab Technician and is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with the goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. She is passionate about healthcare and is excited to further her experience in the field.

Erin Service

Erin is a warm and community-focused team member who joined Pioneer Sports and Pain Center in 2024. Born in Germany and raised in California, she’s experienced life across several states through her family’s military journey. Now happily settled in Idaho, Erin enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Now happily settled in Idaho, Erin enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with her husband and two children. A proud Las Vegas Raiders fan, she brings positivity, connection, and a genuine passion for serving the Kuna community.

Erin was born in Germany while both of her parents were serving in the military and spent most of her childhood in the Bay Area in California, where she lived for 16 years. In 2003, she married her high school sweetheart, a U.S. Marine, and the following year they relocated to North Carolina where he was stationed at Camp Lejeune. After his military service ended, they moved to Reno, Nevada, where they welcomed two wonderful children—a son and a daughter.

In 2016, Erin and her family settled in the beautiful state of Idaho. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband and kids, exploring new places, and traveling whenever she can. Her favorite destinations so far are New Orleans, Louisiana, and she loves Florida. Erin is a devoted Las Vegas Raiders fan and looks forward to football season every fall.

Erin has been with Pioneer Sports and Pain Center since 2024. She loves Kuna, and this job allows her to connect with her community and give back in meaningful and positive ways.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday
7:00am - 2:00pm

Tuesday
12:00pm - 7:00pm

Wednesday
7:00am - 2:00pm

Thursday
12:00pm - 7:00pm

Friday
7:00am - 2:00pm

Saturday & Sunday
Closed

Pioneer Sports & Pain Center

757 E Wythe Creek Ct #102
Kuna, ID 83634

(208) 922-4908