Julie Medwid - Physiotherapist

03/23/2026

As a physiotherapist, especially having the honour to work with many women with pelvic health concerns, I have come to learn the true “why”.

Women want to be active, to exercise regularly, and to lift weights for far more (and better) reasons than just weight loss. In fact, we know that we are more likely to adhere to exercise if the motivation and rewards are intrinsic in nature.

So why do you exercise? What would you add to the list?

03/22/2026

When we take a moment to slow down

To breathe and to give our bodies some novel input

We can feel pretty good!

When we talk about the core it’s more than just strengthening. In our bodies we need both recruitment and rest, stiffness and softness.

Here I’m doing a side body stretch because the core isn’t just the 6-pack muscles we see on fitness influencers. It gives me a moment to breathe, to do something different in my day, and to feel open in an area that often feels tense.

Let’s talk in the context of pelvic health. Maybe part of the pressure management issue isn’t because the core isn’t strong enough but maybe there is a lot of stiffness to the abdomen, back, pelvic floor and diaphragm.

Not all symptoms are because you are weak. We may just need different input!

03/08/2026

Today on International Women’s Day we celebrate the clinicians, researchers, educators, and business owners dedicated to advancing women’s health.

Pelvic and reproductive health physiotherapists are part of a global community working to improve health outcomes, function, and quality of life for women across the lifespan. Through clinical care, research, education, and leadership, physiotherapists continue to advance the field of pelvic and reproductive health, expand access to evidence-based care, and advocate for policy that closes the healthcare gender gap.

Encouragingly, research is demonstrating just how powerful investing in women’s health can be. The Closing the Women’s Health Gap report highlights that closing the women’s health gap could add an average of seven days of healthy life per woman each year, resulting in more than 75 million years of life regained annually worldwide. These findings reinforce what many clinicians already see in practice: when women have access to effective healthcare, the benefits extend beyond individuals to families, communities, and entire health systems.

Today we celebrate the physiotherapists and interdisciplinary partners contributing to this progress - supporting pregnancy and postpartum recovery, addressing pelvic health conditions, leading research, educating future clinicians, and building practices that prioritize women’s health.

We’d love to hear from our community:
How are you advancing pelvic and reproductive health in your work? Share in the comments or tag a colleague whose work in women’s health deserves recognition today!

CPA

02/16/2026

Being “cleared” to exercise at 6 weeks postpartum and being ready to run are two very different things.

In clinic, I rarely look at a calendar first.
I look at capacity.

✔️ Can your pelvic floor tolerate load?
✔️ Can your hips and core manage single-leg impact?
✔️ Is your sleep, stress, and nutrition supporting recovery?
✔️ Do you have a graded plan or are you just hoping for the best?

Return to Running postpartum guidance isn’t about fear. It’s about respecting tissue healing, progressive overload, and physiological stress.

When we layer these factors properly, return to running becomes smoother, stronger, and far less frustrating.

I wrote a full blog post breaking down the best ways we can help people return to running postpartum.
You can read it at the link in my bio.

If you’re postpartum and hoping to run again, comment “RUN” and I’ll send you the link directly.
Or share this with someone navigating this season.

02/14/2026

Thank-you so much to our community for your generosity! Because of you, we have 85 packages of items plus a cash donation to give to the Western Manitoba Women’s Centre!

Every year the Pelvic and Reproductive Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association holds a “Valentines Day Challenge.” Physiotherapy clinics and universities across Canada participate in collecting personal hygiene supplies for a women’s shelter in their area.

We might be a small clinic and a small community but we have BIG hearts!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

12/27/2025

Injury prevention isn’t some magical formula. It’s basic strategies that help you work smarter and not harder.

Sleep, gradual progress, preparation, and listening to your body all matter more than pushing through pain.

If you want guidance with physical activity or help addressing aches and pains early, physiotherapy can support your injury-prevention journey.

11/16/2025

Concussion information has changed over the years as more insights have emerged from the ongoing research.

Some of the biggest changes over the years is recognizing signs of a concussion, removing from play (“when in doubt, sit out”) and following a stepwise protocol prior to returning back to play. Each step in this equation is to help decrease the risk of a delay in recovery or severe outcomes such as a second impact syndrome.

Physiotherapists can play an important role in helping athletes recover safely through assessments, targeted exercise, symptom monitoring, and collaboration with the healthcare team.

🧠 Know the signs.
💪 Get the right support.
✅ Return to sport confidently.

09/27/2025

06/03/2025

✨ A reminder for anyone navigating injury and the path to recovery:

You can’t always control what happens to you—but you can control the steps you take toward recovery.

Recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress, patience, and showing up for your body one step at a time. 💛

05/26/2025

https://www.juliemedwidphysio.com/learn/understanding-the-healing-process-what-to-expect-after-injury

Recovering from an injury can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure what’s normal or how long it will take. In this article, we break down the three key phases of healing—what happens during each stage, what to expect, and how to support your recovery.

05/26/2025

“Why isn’t it better already?”

You’re not alone if you’ve ever asked that during recovery. The truth is—healing takes time. But that’s not because your body is broken… it’s because your body is doing exactly what it’s designed to do.

Your body is hardwired to heal. It moves through 3 main stages:
➡️Inflammatory Phase (0–7 days) – swelling, pain, and high irritability.
➡️Proliferative Phase (1–6 weeks) – your body starts rebuilding. Pain decreases and movement becomes easier, but it’s easy to overdo it here.
➡️Remodeling Phase (6+ weeks) – your body lays down stronger tissue. The focus shifts to full return to function.

Recovery looks different for everyone. It’s influenced by things like:
✔️ Sleep
✔️ Nutrition
✔️ Stress levels
✔️ Pre-injury fitness
✔️ Other health conditions

Pain can be a tool to let you know your body’s way of saying “Not yet” or “That was too much.” But don’t worry—most injuries heal with the right balance of rest, movement, and guidance. 🚶‍♀️

✅ Pro tip: Use the “24-hour pain rule” during rehab to help guide if your movement is helping or not helpful:
- Pain shouldn’t spike more than 2 points on a 10 point scale
- It should settle within 2 hours after activity
- It shouldn’t affect your sleep or the next day’s function

You don’t need to figure it out alone. A physiotherapist can help guide you through each stage of healing and get you back to doing what you love—with confidence.

Interested in reading more? Check out my blog - link in Bio!

05/21/2025

https://www.juliemedwidphysio.com/learn/daily-mindfulness-for-your-pelvic-health

Mindfulness isn’t just for meditation. Bringing awareness to how you move, breathe, and hold tension throughout the day can have a big impact on your pelvic health. Read about 3 simple mindfulness moments you can practice daily to support your pelvic floor—without adding anything to your to-do l...