This weekend, Flow physiotherapist Shannon Porter, PT, MScPT is running the Boston Half Marathon. It's a big moment for Shannon, and a great reminder of what she brings to the treatment room: a lifetime of sport, and a firsthand understanding of what athletes ask of their bodies.
Shannon is the newest physiotherapist on our team, and she's now booking appointments starting Monday, November 16.
A lifelong athlete
Shannon's passion for physiotherapy comes from a lifelong love of movement, sport and working with people. She competed in gymnastics from a young age, then went on to compete in varsity track and cross-country at McMaster University.
Through her own athletic experiences, including navigating injury and rehabilitation, she developed a fascination with the human body and its ability to adapt, recover and become stronger. What began as an interest in understanding movement from an athletic perspective grew into a passion for helping others improve their physical function and quality of life.
Why an athlete's background makes a difference
Every sport asks something different of the body. Gymnastics demands strength, flexibility, landing control and huge amounts of repetition, often starting at a young age. Track asks for speed and power. Cross-country brings high mileage over uneven terrain. Shannon has trained and competed through all of it, and that experience shapes how she assesses and treats.
She understands the movement demands of your sport. When a young gymnast comes in with wrist or back pain, or a runner can't shake a nagging shin or knee issue, Shannon knows what training actually looks like for them. That helps her pinpoint what's contributing to the problem and design rehab that matches what they need to get back to.
She knows what it's like to be the patient. Shannon has been sidelined by injury herself. She understands the frustration of time away from your sport, the worry about falling behind, and how much a clear plan and honest communication help. That's why she believes effective rehab starts with empathy, trust and open communication.
She looks beyond the symptoms. Her active rehab approach focuses on the contributing factors behind an injury, such as training load, strength, mobility and technique, not just the spot that hurts. For runners, that often means looking at how you move, how your training is structured and where you need more strength.
She plans for a stronger return. Shannon believes rehabilitation isn't simply about returning to where you were before. It's about helping you embrace movement, build confidence in your body and discover what you're capable of.
Who Shannon works with
Shannon loves working with young and competitive athletes, gymnasts, runners of every level from first 5K to marathon, and anyone who wants to move with more strength and confidence. She is passionate about the relationship between movement, strength and overall health, and about using exercise and education to create meaningful, lasting change.
Common injuries Shannon treats
Gymnastics and young athletes
Wrist pain from repeated weight-bearing through the hands, often called "gymnast's wrist"
Low back pain from repeated arching, twisting and landing, including rehab after a spondylolysis (lower-back stress fracture) diagnosis
Ankle sprains and other landing injuries
Growth-related heel and knee pain, such as Sever's disease and Osgood-Schlatter
Shoulder pain and instability from bars, rings and tumbling
Running
Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain) around or behind the kneecap
IT band syndrome on the outside of the knee
Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
Achilles tendinopathy
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
Hamstring strains and hip or gluteal tendon pain
Return to running after a bone stress injury
For each, Shannon looks at the whole picture: your training, strength, mobility and how you move. She then builds a plan to reduce pain and get you back to your sport.
About Shannon
Shannon completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University before pursuing her Master of Physical Therapy at Western University. As a physiotherapist, she values building meaningful relationships with her patients and creating an environment where people feel heard, understood and supported.
Outside the clinic, Shannon enjoys staying active, running, exploring trails, spending time outside and discovering new places.
Now Booking with Shannon from November 16
Running Analysis + Rehab. A detailed look at how you run, paired with a personalized plan to address pain, reduce injury risk and help you train consistently.
Orthopaedic Physiotherapy. Assessment and active rehab for injuries of the muscles, joints and ligaments, using exercise and education to create lasting change.
Book with Shannon:
60 Minute Physiotherapy Initial Assessment
30 Minute Physiotherapy Follow Up
45 Minute Physiotherapy Follow Up
60 Minute Physiotherapy Follow Up
Book online with Shannon, or contact our team at (905) 999-5153 or info@flow-wellness.ca. You'll find us at 15 King St W in downtown Bowmanville. Follow Shannon on Instagram at @ptwithshan, and wish her luck in Boston!
