Osoyoos & South Okanagan Physiotherapy and Active Wellness Centres

12/02/2025

Alright!!🎄♥️💚🙌🏼

It is OLIVER Shoppers Draw time - and we are happy to share that Beem Credit Union has stepped up to sponsor all the fun! Shopping local and keeping our dollars circulating in our community is so important...and now you can have a chance to win one of 4 prizes! Oh my goodness - our BIGGEST one yet - $2250 in gift cards and cash to be won. 👀 From now until Friday December 12th you can find entry boxes at these participating businesses. Shout out and much appreciation to everyone involved. ❤

Kelly’s Deals Oliver - Athina’s Hidden Banya - Firehall Brewery - Exhale Art & Crystal - Oliver Buy Low Foods - Underfoot Flooring Oliver, BC - Oliver Eats Ltd. - Big Al's Bakery & Deli - Bharawan Da Dhaba Indian Cuisine - A&W Oliver - Mjcountrykitchen - Oliver Pharmacy - Polka Dot Gifts - Okgn Laser Lounge - Canadian Tire Oliver - Pappa's Firehall Bistro - Red Apple Stores - Kevin's No Frills - Venables Theatre - InnerVisions Salon - Osoyoos & South Okanagan Physiotherapy and Active Wellness Centres - Tacoriendo - KingFineapple Artistry - Alberto's Decorating Centre

12/01/2025

🚨Please READ, SHARE, and HELP US RAISE MONEY for EMPTY BOWLS with a little SELF CARE!💆🏼‍♀️

Our team is once again, making the month December the month of giving. Help us raise funds for the 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗦 fundraiser by simply acknowledging your own self care🫶🏼

Here’s how👇🏼:)

1️⃣ 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙩 ANY 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 Okanagan 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙨 for PHYSIOTHERAPY, CHIROPRACTIC or ACUPUNCTURE, $10 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚.

OR

2️⃣ For every GIFT CERTIFICATE sold for MASSAGE, CHIROPRACTOR, PHYSIOTHERAPY, or ACUPUNCTURE from now until the end of the year, we will DONATE 50% of the value to Desert Sun Counselling & Resource Centre

✨Desert Sun Counselling & Resource Centre offers an array of services to our communities and have made huge impacts on the lives of so many.

Every dollar stays right here in the South Okanagan, supporting the 27 programs Desert Sun provides for children, families, seniors, and individuals across Osoyoos, Oliver & OK Falls.

Let’s work together to help out this amazing non-for-profit organization and spread a little cheer this holiday season💛

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 starting TODAY up until 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 31st!🙌🏼

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic health •registered massage •manual osteopathy •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •counselling

Thank you Desert Sun🙏🏼🧡

www.desertsuncounselling.ca

12/01/2025

FYI everyone!:)

11/28/2025

🚨GIVEAWAY ALERT🚨

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY and HAPPY BDAY to our clinic wiener dog WILLOW!!🖤

To celebrate, POST A PET PIC and you’re ENTERED TO WIN a 60 minute MASSAGE!!💆🏼‍♀️

11/27/2025

Hi 5 to our November Cellys!🎉🙌🏼

Biggest happy bdays to Dr. Levi (our chiropractor), Julie (client coordinator), Kailey (physiotherapist!), Yulia (client coordinator), Danny and Telma (our GF PTs!:), and WELCOME BACK Mitchell (Skaha Physio!)!!🥳

Thanks for being awesome guys:)

And a Happy Thanksgiving to our friends down South today!🦃

11/25/2025

🎿 How to Dodge KNEE INJURIES this Ski Season ⛷️

- written by Adam Yu, our Masters of Physiotherapy student

Ski season is just around the corner, which means that many of us will soon be dusting off our skis and hitting the slopes. Skiing and snowboarding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and improve cardiovascular health, especially for older adults. However, as we age, our bodies experience changes that can increase the risk of injury, particularly to the knees. One of the most common knee injuries from skiing is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Understanding some basic knee anatomy, how ACL tears can happen, and some strategies to protect your knees can help you safely enjoy the upcoming winter season.

Basic Knee Anatomy: 🩻

The knee is a complex hinge joint that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). Between these two bones sits a shock-absorbing piece of cartilage called the meniscus. The kneecap (patella) sits at the front of the joint to help facilitate knee bending (flexion) and straightening (extension). Ligaments are tough fibrous bands of tissue that connect the femur and tibia and stabilize the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) run diagonally through the middle of the knee and provide stability when stopping suddenly or rotating. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) sits on the inside side of the knee and provides side-to-side stability. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) serves the same purpose on the outside of the knee.

As we age, these ligaments can lose some of their elasticity and strength, making them more susceptible to injury. While we think of an ACL tear, we usually picture a complete rupture of the ligament, but tears can also be partial. Ligament injuries are graded from 1 to 3; a grade 1 tear is one in which the ligament has stretched and has one or more small tears. A grade 2 injury is a partial tear, and a grade 3 injury is a complete rupture.

Almost all partial tears will heal, but complete tears require a lengthy rehabilitation period. In most cases, surgery is required to repair a complete tear but some individuals don’t receive surgery and still recover extremely well with only physical therapy. While ACL repair surgeries are extremely common and successful, tearing an ACL drastically increases the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis later in life, regardless of whether the knee is operated on or not.

What Contributes to an ACL Tear? 🤔

The ACL is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee and can tear when stretched beyond its limits or put under excessive force. Skiing, with its dynamic movements and high-impact nature, is a sport where ACL injuries are unfortunately common, especially for older adults. Other sports that commonly see ACL tears include soccer, basketball, and football.

Sudden twisting movements or abrupt changes in direction place rotational strain on the knee. At high speeds, these movements can be challenging to control, and can cause the knee to twist in a way it wasn’t designed to handle, tearing the ACL. This can happen in skiing or snowboarding when you “catch an edge.”

Falling is an unfortunate part of skiing that can also cause ACL tears, especially if you fall on your leg when it is completely bent (hyperflexed). Conversely, falling on a completely straight (hyperextended) knee can also cause ACL tears.

As we age, our muscle mass tends to decrease, especially in the large muscle groups around the knee like the quadriceps and hamstrings. Because these muscles play such an important role in stabilizing the joint, having weak muscles can result in poor knee control and increase the risk of injury. Additionally, having “imbalanced muscles” in which the strength of the quads greatly exceeds the strength of the hamstrings can also contribute to poor knee function.

People who have torn their ACLs describe their injuries very similarly. Usually, they report a “pop” at the time of injury, which was initially painful, but soon subsides. There is usually quite a bit of swelling in the hours following the injury. After the pain and swelling subside, the leading complaint is usually instability and reports of the knee “giving out.”

If you suspect that you have torn your ACL, it is important that you get your knee assessed by a healthcare professional like a physiotherapist or doctor. A physical exam is often sufficient to diagnose an ACL tear, but oftentimes other parts of the knee such as the meniscus or MCL are injured at the same time and these injuries may warrant further medical imaging (such as an X-ray or MRI scan).

Protecting Your Knees While Skiing: 🎿

Although skiing carries some inherent risks, there are several strategies you can adopt to reduce the likelihood of injuring your knees!

1️⃣ Warming up – Before beginning your ski day, it is essential to properly warm up your muscles and joints. Focus on dynamic stretches that target your lower body, such as leg swings, hip rotations, and squats. These dynamic stretches should take your joints through their entire range of motion. Warming up prepares your joints for the demands and impacts of skiing. It is also wise to begin with a few easier runs before tackling your biggest runs of the day, just to prime your body and brain for the physical and cognitive demands of these trickier runs.

2️⃣ Strengthening – Maintaining strong muscles around the knee joint is the best way to protect the ACL. Training that focuses on all main muscles off the knee (hamstrings, quadriceps, glutes, and calves) can improve strength, balance, and proprioception (the ability to sense where your body is in space) which all help prevent falls.

3️⃣ Training should begin in the off-season and continue throughout the season. Remember, it takes time to build and maintain muscle, so start early and progress the weight of any exercises slowly to avoid injuries from training. Exercises like lunges, squats, Romanian deadlifts, and calf raises target these main muscle groups. The best exercises are specific and mimic the actions you do during skiing.

4️⃣ Wear properly fitted equipment – Ski boots and bindings should be appropriately fitted to ensure optimal performance and safety. Ill-fitting boots can lead to improper alignment of your knees, increasing the risk of injury. The boots should be snug but not painfully tight, and the bindings should release properly in case of a fall to prevent excessive strain on the knees.

5️⃣ Take breaks and know your limits – It's important to listen to your body and take breaks when needed. Skiing can be physically demanding, and fatigue can impair your coordination and reaction times. Overexertion increases the risk of accidents, so rest frequently and stay hydrated. If you start feeling tired, it’s better to take a break than to push through the fatigue, which can lead to poor form and increase the likelihood of a knee injury. In fact, a large proportion of ski injuries happen during the last run of the day as the fatigued muscles aren’t able to protect the knee as easily.

Ready For Ski Season:💪🏼

Be sure to strengthen your legs and listen to your body to see if you’re ready for winter sports. Also be sure to maintain your fitness throughout the winter – exercise is protective not only for knee injuries, but for many chronic health conditions! If you notice that your joints are sore, be sure to take a break and know that you can always seek help from a therapist who can help address your pain and injuries. We hope that you have a safe ski and snowboard season this year! 🙌🏼

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)

11/21/2025

FUN FACT FRIDAY!🤓

🤔Did you know…
our Osoyoos and Penticton clinics are the official PHYSIOTHERAPISTS for the Osoyoos Coyotes AND the Penticton Vees?!

GO COYOTES and VEES GO!🚨🙌🏼

To get in on this action:

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)

11/20/2025

🌼 A message from our PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST, Kay-Ann

Let’s Talk About INCONTINENSE
(Yes, Even the Sneaky Kind!)

If you’ve ever felt a small leak when lifting weights, laughing a little too hard, or doing something as simple as jumping jacks… you’re FAR from alone. These moments of bladder leakage—often called stress incontinence—happen when pressure on the bladder increases faster than the pelvic floor can respond. And while it’s common, it’s NOT something you just have to live with.

✨So what can you do about it?

There ARE solutions, and one of the most effective is working with a PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY. Kay-Ann can help you:

✔️ Understand what’s actually going on

✔️ Strengthen (or relax!) the pelvic floor

✔️ Learn strategies to prevent leaks during exercise and daily life

✔️ Build confidence in your body again
If this sounds familiar, consider it your sign to reach out and get support.

Your PELVIC FLOOR deserves attention, care, and expertise—so don’t hesitate to book an assessment with our pelvic floor physiotherapist, Kay-Ann.

Your body will thank you 💛

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)

11/14/2025

A great Friday Feels READ🫶🏼

Humans helping humans. Doing their best. One day at a time...💚

Therapy isn’t about a miracle cure, but rather a direction down the right path, having our todays move forward from our yesterdays. Not a simple task. But our team is with you. One day at a time...💪🏼

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

11/13/2025

🤔 DID YOU KNOW…

We offer SATURDAY and LATE APPOINTMENTS for ACUPUNCTURE, REGISTERED MASSAGE, and PHYSIO!

If your busy schedule is getting in the way of your self care, give our gang a call and ask how we can work around it for you. Our team is here to help🫶🏼:)

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)

11/12/2025

“How to beat the Holiday Hangovers”

- written by Yana Denisova, Dr. TCM, Acupuncturist

During Halloween many of us ate more sweets than we deserve. Maybe you felt heavy, bloated, foggy in the head, or you had a headache. But you enjoyed the holiday. Now Christmas and New Year are coming with their own big "digestive projects", and this is a good moment to take small steps so your digestion feels steady again.

In Chinese medicine, balance in digestion means your body takes in food, turns it into energy, and moves waste out in a smooth, regular way. When things are balanced, you feel light and clear, with steady energy and a comfortable stomach. When we eat too much sugar, this balance can change. We sometimes use words like “dampness” which means the metabolism slows down and the body holds on to moisture, and waste does not move out well. You can feel heavy, puffy, sleepy, or foggy-headed. It can also create a kind of heat and a stuck feeling inside, which can show as irritability, heartburn, dry mouth, or headaches and migraines. These reactions are common after a sugar binge; your body is asking for a gentle reset.

You might notice bloating, gas, loose stools or constipation, strong cravings followed by a crash, sinus stuffiness, skin breakouts, or headaches after sweets or wine. Late autumn and winter with their dryness and cold also play a role. This season is kinder to warm, simple, hydrating cooked foods. Cold salads, iced drinks, and a lot of sugar and alcohol can slow things down more at this time of year. Warm meals help your body’s “stove”, the processing center, work better.

To rebalance, keep it simple. Don't skip your breakfast, try to eat at regular times and stop before you feel full. Choose warm, cooked foods more often, like soups, stews, congee. Winter veggies like squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes are particularly good. Gentle spices such as fresh ginger, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, and a little orange peel can wake up digestion and help the body handle moisture and move waste more smoothly. Warm teas are helpful too: ginger tea if you feel sluggish and heavy, chrysanthemum tea if you get heat‑type headaches or eye strain, and a little mint if you tend to feel hot.

Gentle movement and rest also make a big difference. A 10-20 minute walk after meals helps food move and clears the head. Keeping a regular bedtime supports calm digestion and energy cycles.

Acupuncture can also help during this season of treats and rich meals. Many people find that acupuncture calms nausea, reduces bloating, and eases heartburn. It can steady energy, clear the head, and lower the chance of sugar‑triggered headaches or migraines. From a Chinese medicine view, acupuncture helps the body’s processing center work more smoothly, moves what is stuck, and supports the movement of waste. It helps the nervous system relax, improve gut motility, and reduce stress that makes cravings and reflux worse. Treatments are gentle and can be tailored to your symptoms, such as digestion, sleep, or headaches. A series of treatments around the holidays can make a clear difference for many people.

Most important, feel good about small wins. You don’t need a strict diet. Choosing one or two steps and repeating them every week is already a success. Notice the small changes: less bloat, a clearer head, fewer crashes. Looking ahead to the holidays, choose the treats you truly love and enjoy them slowly. Eat a small warm meal before parties so you are not too hungry, alternate alcohol with warm water or tea, and bring a warming dish to share if you can.

If headaches, heartburn, or bowel issues keep returning, a practitioner of Chinese medicine can give personal advice with herbs or acupuncture and a plan that fits you. You enjoyed the holiday season, and that is fine. Now you are choosing care for yourself. With warm food, gentle spices, a short walk, and steady sleep, your body can find balance again. You deserve to feel light, clear, and steady through the holidays.

☎️Call us today

Osoyoos: 250-495-2225
Oliver: 250-498-2202
Grand Forks: 250-442-2244
Penticton: 250-328-3321

💻Or BOOK ONLINE at:

www.southokanaganphysio.com
www.skahaphysio.ca

💥WE DIRECT BILL ALL MAJOR INSURERS!💥

•physiotherapy •chiropractic •pelvic floor health •registered massage •acupuncture •IMS/dry needling •kinesiology •vestibular rehab •ICBC/Worksafe claims •TMJ •shockwave •custom pillows •and more:)