Acupuncture (CAFCI), WorkSafeBC Therapist, Myofascial Release, Manual Therapy, Dry Needling

Grant is our resident Kiwi sports junkie at Dale Charles Physiotherapy Group. Coming from Southern Hemisphere involvement with rugby, softball and cricket teams, having now made the full transition to Canadian 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 active wife and daughters.

Acupuncture (CAFCI), WorkSafeBC Therapist, Myofascial Release, Manual Therapy, Dry Needling Gran... Read More

IMS Practitioner, Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist

Ashley earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from McGill University in 2010. She has gained diverse experience since then, initially practicing in Ontario and across British Columbia before choosing Penticton as her permanent base. Ashley is skilled in dry needling, which she integrates with manual therapy techniques and personalized exercise plans.

Outside of her practice, Ashley is an avid trail enthusiast, frequently exploring on foot or two wheels. She finds joy in activities such as mountain biking, running, yoga, snowboarding, and skiing. Her passion lies in helping motivated individuals regain their ability to enjoy their favorite activities.

IMS Practitioner, Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Therapist, Myofascial Release Therapist Ashley e... Read More

Certificate Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, Certificate Sports Physiotherapy, Concussion Management, CAFCI(Acu), cGunnIMS

After earning her BSc in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta in 2000, Shandia began her career at a large sports clinic in Calgary before heading to Australia for a year, where she completed a certificate in orthopedic manual therapy. She then worked in Whistler for a season and eventually returned to work in her hometown of Kelowna. In 2009 she moved to Penticton and joined the Dale Charles Physiotherapy Group.

Shandia has been a national team physiotherapist with Canada Snowboard since 2010 and is currently the lead physiotherapist for their Health and Athletic Performance Team. She is fortunate to have travelled all over the world supporting the team at several world cups and world championships. She was part of the Canadian Olympic Team supporting snowboard at the Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. She also volunteered in the Whistler Polyclinic during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Her continuing education certifications include specialized training in manual therapy, dry needling (IMS), sport-related concussion management, TPI golf assessment, completion of a Reconditioning Specialist Mentorship, and the Sport Physiotherapy Certificate.

Shandia enjoys working with all age groups and strives to listen to every patient’s unique story and goals. Drawing from her experiences working in high performance sport, she aims to provide a contextual movement assessment that guides an individual treatment plan combining needs analysis, education, manual therapy and targeted exercise programming. She also has a passion for working with youth athletes taking extra time to communicate with doctors, coaches, and parents to facilitate a timely and safe return from injury.

With a keen interest in injury reduction, performance enhancement, lower extremity and ACL rehabilitation, and return to sport screening, she brings both expertise and enthusiasm to her work. A former collegiate basketball player, Shandia enjoys traveling, SUPing, mountain biking, golfing, volleyball, downhill skiing, and is an avid kiteboarder. She volunteers with the SPCA and Elder Dog and is involved with the charity Fast and Female whose mission is to keep young girls healthy and active in sports.

Certificate Orthopaedic Manual Therapy, Certificate Sports Physiotherapy, Concussion Management, ... Read More

Vestibular Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Matheson FCE Evaluator, Orthopedics and Sports Injury, Pool Therapy, REACT Program Therapist

Denise Mend holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University and completed her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation in 1993. She has been a dedicated physiotherapist at Dale Charles Physiotherapy Group since 1995.

With advanced training in orthopedic manual therapy (Level III Orthopedic Division) and a strong focus on musculoskeletal and neurological health, Denise brings extensive experience to her practice. A lifelong learner she has leveraged the new research about neruoplacticity to empower her patients with persistent pain and vestibular dysfunction.

A role model for active living, Denise’s athletic background includes varsity basketball at SFU and competitive swimming. These days, she has fun with running, yoga, pilates, paddleboarding, skiing (both skate and downhill), and disc golf. She believes in staying “Moving for Life”—a philosophy she also brings to her patients.

Denise and her partner Paul love their growing family (kids and a grandchild) and feel so grateful to be able to play with them in the Okanagan.

Vestibular Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Matheson FCE Evaluator, Orthopedics and Sports Injury... Read More

Orthopaedic and Sports Injury, Dry Needling and Acupuncture (CAFCI), Pain Management, Senior Health and Wellness, Injury Prevention

Crystal graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. After working and travelling for a few years, she joined the Dale Charles Physiotherapy Group in 2001 and has been an associate there since 2002. Crystal is actively involved in the community mountain biking, curling, playing hockey, hiking and snowboarding.

As a private physiotherapist for over twenty-five years, Crystal loves working with all age groups. She helps her patients reach their goals of returning to their favourite activities, returning to work and improving their quality of life. She draws from her toolkit of manual therapy, dry needling techniques, active exercise prescription, modalities, and education to help clients correct muscle imbalances, improve strength, and decrease pain. She encourages patients to participate in their recovery actively and believes all patients can improve their physical well-being.

Crystal is committed to lifelong learning, and in-depth knowledge of anatomy, assessment and treatment options would be very beneficial to this integrated team. In the last few years, she has completed training in “Cognitive Functional Therapy” and “Motivational Interviewing”. These courses reinforced her philosophy of letting the patient be the centre of the discussion which allows for a greater development and therapeutic alliance with her patients.

Crystal enjoys being with her family. She is always helping her active kids with injury prevention. Matt is an adventure guiding student at TRU and tends to have something aching after White water kayaking or mountain climbing. Kate a water-skier, is on the Canadian National Junior Waterski team and often has complications from extreme hours of training. Mom helps keep them healthy and happy.

Orthopaedic and Sports Injury, Dry Needling and Acupuncture (CAFCI), Pain Management, Senior Heal... Read More