Certificate Orthopedic Manual Therapy- COMT (Australia), Sports Physiotherapy Certificate, Athletic Therapist CAT(C), ‘dry needling’- Intramuscular Stimulation (CGIMS), Acupuncture (CAFCI), Vestibular Rehabilitation + Concussion Management, Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
Michael is the PAST Director of the Corporation operating the clinic group. He currently works part-time holding a senior position within the group. A Penticton native,he holds a BSc from UBC, and completed his physiotherapy education at University of Western Ontario in London, ON. He maintains credentials in sport physiotherapy and athletic therapy, and has training in acupuncture and dry needling (IMS). He has completed an advanced manual therapy program at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and other courses in manipulation. He continues to follow the knowledge curve in concussion management.
Michael has accumulated extensive experience with community, provincial and national sporting teams and events, including the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and 25 international tournaments with the Rugby Canada 7-aside national men’s team. He was the Medical Director for the Penticton 2016 BC Winter Games. Michael’s therapy experience has taken him to 16 countries, covering 6 continents (missing Antarctica). In his free time, he tries to keep up by living the motto “Moving for Life”.
Vestibular Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Matheson FCE evaluator, Orthopedics and Sports Injury, Pool Therapy, REACT Program Therapist
Denise Mend graduated with a Bachelors in Science in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, before completing her Bachelors in Science in Rehabilitation in 1993. She has been an associate with Dale Charles Physiotherapy since 1995.
Denise has completed her Level III orthopedic division courses, and continues to have an active interest in musculoskeletal courses. She has also developed an interest in treating persistent pain, and has taken many courses over the past few years to enrich her practice.
A past basketball player at SFU and competitive swimmer, Denise now enjoys standup paddle boarding, yoga, running, cycling, skate skiing, and downhill skiing to keep her “Moving for Life”. Now that her two young-adult children are in university, she and her husband Paul have more free time to enjoy all that the Okanagan offers.
Registered Physiotherapist, Work Conditioning and WorkSafeBC Occupational Rehabilitation (OR1) Program Manager, Enhanced Programs Provider, Job Site Visits and Return to Work Planning, Industrial Pre-screening Services, Hydrotherapy/React Program Physiotherapist, Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)
Sue is one of our most experienced senior physiotherapists. Sue has been with us for over 30 years now, and is one of our specialty-imported products from the U.K. She heads up our work conditioning and return to work programs, and does our “off-site” assessments at job sites. Sue can usually be found “motivating” her clients in the gym or pool.
It is no secret why there are so many of us who have worked here for so long; it is a great group of talented and committed therapists, working as a team.
Sue is a keen cyclist and can often be seen cycling home from work along Eastside Road when it is 30 degrees in August, stopping for at least two swims on the way.
Sue and her husband Alan have been married for over 30 years, and have two young adult children who have flown the nest. They are all Mt. Baldy skiers.
Sue’s recipe for Karma is to nap and eat chocolate everyday!
Acupuncture (CAFCI), WorkSafeBC Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist
Grant is our resident Kiwi sports junkie at Sports Clinic Physiotherapy. Coming from Southern Hemisphere involvement with rugby, softball and cricket teams, he has spent the past decade gradually making the Canadian transition to snow and ice sports.
Grant’s special interest is the mechanism and prevention of sports injuries. He was instrumental in establishing an ACL injury prevention program for teenage soccer players in Penticton, and is now working at the other end of the injury prevention spectrum, to reduce the risk of falls in the older population.
Trained in manual therapy, dry needling and acupuncture, and myofascial release techniques, Grant brings a unique blend of treatment tools to the table.
You’ll find Grant “Moving for Life”, running and biking in the hills around Penticton, or just trying to keep pace with his two very mobile daughters.
COMT(Aus), SPC(c), Registered Physiotherapist
Shandia graduated from the University of Alberta in 2000 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. After working at a large sports clinic in Calgary she headed to Australia, where she completed her certificate in orthopedic manual therapy (COMT). She then returned to Canada to work in Whistler for a season, before returning to work in her home town of Kelowna. She eventually moved to the beautiful South Okanagan and joined the Sports Clinic Physiotherapy team in 2009.
Shandia has advanced certification in orthopedic manual therapy and continues to attend conferences and courses whenever she is able. She is also certified to practice acupuncture (CAFCI) and intramuscular stimulation (CGIMS) and completed her Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 golf assessment certification. She has also completed her Sport Physiotherapy Canada certificate.
Shandia has been a physiotherapist with the Canadian National Snowboard Team since the 2010/2011 season. Since that time she has travelled with teams all over the world to several world cups, world championships, and in 2014, joined the team at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She continues to travel on the world cup circuit with Canada’s Snowboardcross Team. She was a volunteer in the Whistler Polyclinic during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, Shandia has volunteered at many other local, provincial and national sporting events over the years.
Shandia enjoys working with all age groups, helping patients return to their favorite activities, their occupation or to simply improve their quality of life. She combines manual therapy, needling, education and exercise prescription to help individuals reach their specific rehab goals.
A former collegiate basketball player, Shandia enjoys travelling and can be found “Moving for Life” SUPing with her dog Kula, mountain biking, kiteboarding, golfing, waterskiing, playing basketball or hockey and downhill skiing.
Orthopaedic and Sports Injury, Acupuncture (CAFCI), REACT Program Therapist, Pain Management
Crystal is a physiotherapist who is actively involved in the community and raising her two children, Matt and Kate. You can find her most evenings at the hockey rink.
Crystal graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. She joined the Dale Charles Physiotherapy Clinic in 2001.
Working for over twenty years as a physiotherapist in private practices, she continues to love helping and educating her patients. She helps clients establish a home program to correct their muscle imbalances, improve their posture and decrease their pain. She encourages patients to take an active role in their recovery.
Crystal likes to keep active herself and enjoys hiking, travelling, biking and has most recently started playing hockey herself.
But most of all she enjoys playing with her family!
Kinesiologist, Exercise Physiologist, CSEP-CEP, Aquatic Rehab Specialist, PGAP Provider
Jenn completed her Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree from UBC Okanagan and is registered as a BCAK Practicing Kinesiologist. Her certifications include CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist, BCRPA Supervisor of Aquatic Fitness leaders, and WaterArt Aquatic Rehab Specialist. She has a long history in aquatics as a lifeguard, swim coach and fitness instructor.
At the Sports Clinic, Jenn helps people get back to work, life and leisure through active rehabilitation programs. Her main roles are with the Occupational Rehabilitation 1 and Work Conditioning Programs, but she also provides one-on-one aquatic and gym based exercise programs, as well as individualized support with the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP).
When she is not in the gym or the pool, you will find Jenn outdoors, glued to a good book, or spending time with her daughter, husband, and two dogs. Hiking, snowshoeing and skiing top the list of her favorite activities, but you may also find Jenn digging in the garden, clinging to a rock face, lounging on the pontoon boat or reeling in a big one.
IMS Practitioner, Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist
Ashley graduated with her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University in 2010. Since then, she has made her way west, working for some time in Ontario and across British Columbia, before deciding to make Penticton her home.
She has training in dry needling and uses it in collaboration with manual therapy techniques and exercise prescription. Outside the clinic, Ashley can be found on many of the trails, either on foot, or on two wheels. She also enjoys yoga, running, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
Dr. Hooper has had an interest in musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries throughout his career, beginning in medical school and continuing since graduation from the University of Calgary in Family Medicine in 1989. Initially, he pursued his interest in MSK injuries through additional work in sport and occupational medicine. Since 2000, he has worked full-time in the treatment of MSK pain, while pursuing teaching and research interests, leading to several publications. In 2004 he co-founded the Advanced Spinal Care Centre, a multi-disciplinary pain clinic in Calgary. He continues to hold a position as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, while working in Penticton and Kelowna. Dr. Hooper’s current interests include Prolotherapy and PRP for management of MSK pain.
is an injection technique to repair ligament and tendon injuries. Common conditions treated that respond well include: ankle and knee sprains, lateral elbow pain, sacroiliac joint pain after pregnancy, and spine pain after motor vehicle accidents.
is an injection technique using the patient’s own platelets in a concentrated solution to treat osteoarthritis. The procedure works best for mild to moderate osteoarthritis in those under 65 years of age.
Prolotherapy and PRP are not covered by MSP. Doctor’s referral required
