Our ligaments, tendons, and overall musculoskeletal system can take a real hit during the menopause transition, making injuries more frequent and recovery slower. Too often, practitioners still overlook common issues like tendinopathies—leaving women to live with unnecessary pain before getting an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This week’s guest, former pro triathlete and licensed massage therapist Jan Wanklyn, dives into the unique musculoskeletal challenges active menopausal women face, the soft tissue therapies (like ART) and exercise strategies that can help, and why she wishes hormone therapy had been an option back in her day.

Jan Wanklyn, LMT, has been a massage therapist for 34 years. She is an Active Release Techniques® (ART) instructor and practitioner (1998–2025) and former professional triathlete with five Ironman wins (Germany, New Zealand ×3, Australia) and two Philadelphia Marathon victories. She holds a Human Movement Studies degree (University of Queensland) and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, taught PE for eight years, and has coached triathletes online and in person. Jan’s clinical toolkit spans Contemporary Medical Acupuncture, K-taping, DNS, SFMA, Smart Tools/IASTM, and extensive wet-lab/cadaver and running biomechanics training. She practices at Northside Chiropractic Clinic in Brisbane, QLD and has a private practice on the Sunshine Coast -North of Brisbane you can contact through Active Release Australia / Jan Wanklyn on Instagram.

Resources:

Active Release Techniques at Physio-Pedia

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