Staff
Rebecca Wykle, PT, DPT, SCS
Rebecca is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy who graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!) and East Carolina University, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in physical education (BS) and Master’s degree in Physical Therapy (MPT). She moved to Chattanooga with her husband in the Spring of 2001 and begin working in the field of outpatient orthopedics. Early in her career, she witnessed a corporate push for increased revenues, patient numbers, and therapist productivity, and therefore, she observed many shortcomings in typical patient care models in the area. She desired to give her patients more time with a one-on-one approach. She met and worked closely with Keri Todd who shared the same feelings and vision. Together, they created Peak Fitness and Physical Therapy in 2011. After Keri moved away from Chattanooga, Rebecca continued to push for a new set of standards in patient care in the Chattanooga community as a sole proprietor of the business.
As Peak grew, so did Rebecca’s continued desire to learn. She completed her certification for Pilates for Rehabilitation through Polestar in 2014 to become a certified Pilates Instructor. In 2020, she earned her doctorate in physical therapy (DPT), and later that same year, she became a board certified sports physical therapy clinical specialist (SCS).
Rebecca and her family (husband, Chad and children, Gabe and Nora) felt a pull back home to the mountains and foothills of North Carolina and made the difficult decision to move back there in 2021. She asked her long-time friend and colleague, Marie Howell, to join her as a partner in business. Despite the 4.5 hour drive, Rebecca continues to be an integral part of Peak Fitness and Physical Therapy and will frequently treat patients in the clinic!
Marie Howell, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA, PMA-NCPT
Marie Howell is a Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist who graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with a Master of Physical Therapy in 1993. In her desire to advance her knowledge and become an advocate for her patients, clients and her community, she earned her doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) in addition to becoming board certified in geriatrics (GCS) in 2020. She also holds certification in several areas, including: Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), Certified Polestar Pilates Rehab instructor (NCPT), and TheraPilates Bone-Safe Exercise Practitioner.
She has been practicing physical therapy since 1993 with experience in the areas of neuro and orthopedic in acute care and rehab settings, as well as home health care. She moved to Chattanooga with her family in 2000, and became an integral member of the Peak team in 2013, focusing her practice in the areas of aging adult/geriatric orthopedics, osteoporosis, and Pilates fitness and rehab, providing one-on-one care to patients with tailored treatment strategies. She currently treats patients and clients along with her clinic ownership responsibilities, and enjoys spending time with the community leading classes and seminars both at the clinic and within her local community, She is a vital resource for fall-prevention, safe movement strategies and maintaining fitness with her Bones in Balance classes.
Allison Stowers PT, DPT, SCS
Allison Youngblood Stowers is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy who earned her clinical doctorate in physical therapy from Georgia State University. She is Certified in Dry Needling as well as a Certified Running Gait Analyst. A love of rock climbing and a dedication to its outdoor community brought Allison and her husband to Chattanooga, TN. That same love of climbing and the rehabilitation of common injuries seen among climbers are what ultimately lead Allison down her professional path.
Along her journey, she was intrigued by the common issue of pelvic pain and urinary incontinence among high-level athletes and women in general. Thus, her further educational pursuit into pelvic floor rehab through the Herman and Wallace pelvic rehabilitation institute. As a mom herself, she loves to help keep women moving during pregnancy and beyond.
At Peak Fitness and Physical Therapy, she provides one on one guidance for climbers, runners, & other outdoor athletes in the Chattanooga community and offers virtual consultations via Zoom for those beyond. Allison teaches free workshops for climbers in her community and has presented at national conferences for physical therapists. She serves as an area rep for the Southeastern Climbing Coalition and is a Wilderness First Responder.
Natalie Filar, PT, MSPT
Natalie Filar is a licensed PT who earned her Master’s of Physical Therapy from the University of Kentucky in 2005. Prior to PT school, Natalie was a Division I scholarship student-athlete with the women’s soccer program at Furman University where she earned a BS degree in Health and Exercise Science in 2002.
Natalie has over 10 years of experience in the outpatient setting treating a variety of orthopedic and spine diagnoses. She is well rounded in her continuing education such as total joint rehab, functional strengthening, McKenzie approach and geriatric rehab. She enjoys working with a variety of clients, from the young athlete to the active middle age runner to the geriatric population. She has been with Peak PT since 2017 and truly enjoys striving to help each patient she treats.
Natalie and her family have called Chattanooga home for around 10 years. She leads an active lifestyle with her husband, Travis, and three children, Savanna, Luke and Kathryn. She enjoys giving back to the sport she loves by coaching youth soccer.
Elizabeth Swafford PT, DPT
Elizabeth Swafford is a licensed physical therapist who earned her Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and her Bachelor of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from Belmont University. While at Belmont, Elizabeth was a Division I scholarship student-athlete with the women’s soccer program and experienced physical therapy firsthand while rehabbing from an ACL and meniscus tear. This, coupled with her love of helping and teaching people, led her to pursue PT as a profession.
While training for her doctorate, and then as she continued in her career path, Elizabeth became more and more interested in pelvic floor rehab, particularly with pre- and post-natal women. She has continued pursuing this through coursework with the American Physical Therapy Association, Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, the Integrative Women’s Health Institute, and received her Pre and Post-Natal Coaching Certification from the Coaching and Training Women Academy.
Elizabeth enjoys treating people in order to help them return to the activities they love. She looks at the body as a whole, instead of focusing on only the symptomatic area, in an attempt to treat and correct the driver of pain or dysfunction. Elizabeth is thrilled to be a part of the team at Peak where patient care comes first. Come see the difference in our one-on-one, hour long treatment sessions, where we evaluate you individually and create a unique plan of care specific to you.
Meghan Guler, PT, DPT
Meghan is an orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapist with a special interest in runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes. Meghan is passionate about educating and assisting individuals in modifying their exercise and movement to continue participating in their sport/favorite activities while healing from injury and caring for their body. Meghan finds joy in helping others pursue the fitness goals they never thought possible and you’ll often find her outside the clinic cheering and providing support/crew assistance from the sidelines of local events.
Meghan is a trained/certified practitioner in Dry Needling, ImPACT Concussion care, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization A, APTA Pelvic Health 1, and professional bike fits. Meghan has completed the McKenzie Approach training for the neck and low back. She is actively involved in furthering her professional education and treatment approaches to best serve the population she works with.
In her free time, Meghan is an outdoor enthusiast, avid cyclist, reader, and runner for a nonprofit organization supporting individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis, MS Run the US.
Stephanie Baker, PT, DPT
Stephanie earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Emory University in 2010. She began her career in the acute care environment; working in early mobility within intensive care units, heart and lung transplants, oncology and stroke patients. Her experience working within the hospital environment helps give her a different and fresh perspective when treating patients in the outpatient setting. Stephanie became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) in 2022 and began treating those patients who have experienced swelling, often after cancer treatment and has a passion for this area to serve those in need of this service. She is trained in Mat Pilates through Stott Pilates. Stephanie loves looking at patient care from a holistic perspective and is excited to be a part of the team at Peak!
Kelsey Vickers, PT, DPT
Sarah Cathey, PT, DPT
Sarah Cathey is a licensed PT who earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Prior to studying physical therapy, Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Go Vols!). When she moved to Chattanooga for PT school, she fell in love with the city and decided to stick around.
Sarah is passionate about helping patients return to the activities they love without pain or limitations and especially loves helping young athletes return to their sports. As a past athlete and ballerina and a current distance runner, Sarah has experienced first-hand how challenging it can be to recover from an injury that limits you from participating in the sport you’re passionate about. She is also a certified Yin yoga instructor and believes that it is important to treat each patient as a whole person, considering the impact that lifestyle habits, stress, and mental health can have on our physical health.
In her free time, Sarah loves to read, write, run, hike and explore this beautiful city with friends and family.