I walked into a Pilates conference with shoulder and upper back pain and stiffness I'd been living with for months. Three days later, I was doing arm jumps on the reformer, and my mentor asked me to demonstrate them for the entire class. In this episode, I share what happened in between — exploring why half of midlife women live with chronic pain and how movement can be medicine.
The Who Is Peri?™ Podcast
Menopause Related Joint Pain, Strength Loss and Body Shifts
Hosted by Dr. Diedra Manns, PT, DPT, MS. Honest, evidence-informed conversations about perimenopause, midlife physical change, and what it really takes to feel capable, strong, and like yourself again.
“Friends don’t let friends navigate Peri alone.”
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Open in Spotify The Move I Was Avoiding Was the One I Needed: Chronic Pain in Midlife
Episode 5• Oct 29• 19 min 21 sec
I walked into a Pilates conference with shoulder and upper back pain and stiffness I'd been living with for months. Three days later, I was doing arm jumps on the reformer, and my mentor asked me to demonstrate them for the entire class. In this episode, I share what happened in between — exploring why half of midlife women live with chronic pain and how movement can be medicine.
In this episode:
- Why pain is 100% perceived by the brain
- The sensitive fire alarm of chronic pain
- Why movement that supports yet challenges your body is medicine
Episode Archive
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“I’m not stressed. I’ve been through much more stress than this before.” When a client said that to Dr. Diedra, she believed her. In this episode, Dr. Diedra explores allostatic load and the demands we stop noticing because we’ve become so used to meeting them, plus the relationship between pain, stress, and sleep.
When opening a pickle jar suddenly takes more effort, is it just a stubborn lid — or something worth noticing? Dr. Diedra uses an everyday change in grip strength to introduce the emerging Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (MSM) and explain how hormones communicate with tissues across the whole body.
Episode 2•Sep 2•17 min 20 sec
Perimenopause, Menopause, or Postmenopause: Where Are You — and Why It Matters
Dr. Diedra explains the stages of reproductive aging (STRAW+10), from reproductive years through perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Learn how menstrual patterns, hormone testing, and medical history provide context for joint pain, stiffness, and musculoskeletal health.
The debut episode! The name started with a husband, his wife, and a pretty big misunderstanding about someone named Peri. Dr. Diedra shares her own journey with surgical menopause, why physiology alone wasn't enough, and how Stability Before Performance™ was born.
Educational & Informational Disclaimer
The Who Is Peri?™ Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not individualized medical or physical therapy advice, and listening does not establish a clinician-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your symptoms, health concerns, and medical treatment decisions.