A man with short brown hair and a beard, smiling, wearing a light blue collared shirt against a gray background.
A man with short brown hair and a beard, smiling, wearing a light blue collared shirt against a gray background.

About Chris Coupal | Registered Physiotherapist

I’m Chris Coupal, a born-and-raised Calgarian, registered physiotherapist, and founder of Northstar Physiotherapy. Although my education and career took me to several different places, I am excited to have returned home and established my practice in Northwest Calgary.

My path into healthcare was not traditional. I began my career in industrial automation and programming within Alberta’s oil and gas industry before completing my Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta. I was drawn to physiotherapy by the opportunity to combine analytical problem-solving with meaningful, people-focused work. That background continues to influence how I approach assessment: listening carefully, examining the problem from different angles, and building a practical plan rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.

Clinical Experience

Before opening Northstar Physiotherapy, I spent several years working in private orthopedic practice in Saskatchewan. During that time, I treated a broad range of patients—from people experiencing their first injury to those dealing with persistent pain, recurring problems, or more complicated barriers to recovery.

My experience has included:

  • Acute muscle and joint injuries

  • Persistent and recurring pain

  • Workplace injuries and complex return-to-work rehabilitation

  • Post-surgical rehabilitation

  • Recreational and competitive athletes

  • Hockey players from the Battlefords North Stars organization

  • Mentoring and supporting newer physiotherapists

Working with complex rehabilitation patients taught me that recovery is rarely determined by one muscle, joint, scan finding, or exercise. Symptoms can be influenced by physical capacity, work demands, previous experiences, sleep, stress, confidence, and many other factors. My role is to help identify which factors matter for you and turn that information into a manageable plan.

Whether your goal is to get through the workday more comfortably, return to the gym, play a sport, manage a persistent condition, or simply understand what is happening, I aim to provide clear guidance and treatment that fits your life.

When I’m not in the clinic, you can usually find me strength training, golfing, gardening, spending time outdoors, or walking my two rescue dogs, Sugar and Lucy.