The Metluma Edit from Dr Nic: What To Do When Movement Is Painful
4 minute read
Winter has a way of asking more of us than we expect. Coming out the other side of June – the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year – I’ve found myself thinking less about what the season takes away, and more about what it makes space for.
In consultations this month, I’ve sat with women untangling all kinds of relationships – with their bodies, their energy, their sense of self through this transition.
And in conversations with organisations like AMP, Bunnings and SAP, I’ve seen leaders and colleagues starting to ask better questions about how to support the women in their teams.
Both remind me of the same thing: the most meaningful change usually starts quietly, in the dark, before it’s visible to anyone else.
That’s true for us at Metluma too. Behind the scenes, we’ve been growing our medical team to keep up with the care our community deserves. I’m so pleased to share that Dr Linda has joined us, and I can’t wait to introduce her properly in the coming weeks, but for now, know that it means more capacity, more appointments, and more of the connected care you’ve told us matters most.
So as we move toward longer days, I’ll leave you with this: what’s been quietly growing for you this winter, out of sight, waiting for a bit more light?
Warmest,
Dr Nic, Specialised GP
Metluma Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer
Join me live
🎤 Free Upcoming AMA: Exercising and Feeling the Pain – Where to Now?
📅 Thursday, 30th July 2026 | 12PM AEST | Live on StreamYard | FREE
Back pain, hip pain, a knee that flares every time you try to get back into it … in peri-/menopause, these aren’t random. They’re a pattern. And once you understand why, everything changes.
In this AMA, we’ll unpack the biology behind why midlife women are more prone to injury, why pushing harder isn’t the answer, and what sustainable, evidence-based movement actually looks like for your body right now.
We’ll unpack:
Why peri-/menopause changes how your body responds to exercise and injury.
The difference between good pain and bad pain, and how to use the 48-hour rule to know when to push and when to pull back.
What to actually do when inflammation flares: how to reset, recover, and get back to moving without making things worse.
Why consistency always beats intensity – especially in perimenopause – and what a realistic starting point looks like for a time-poor woman.
Hosted by Dr Nic Avard, with special guest:
🩺 Christine Jenkins, Physiotherapist, STOTT Pilates Instructor & Co-Director at Collins Street Physiotherapy
Come with your questions. Leave with a framework for understanding your body – and a clearer path forward.
👩⚕️ Introducing our Annual Care Membership — a personal invitation to stay connected, all year long
Here at Metluma, we’ve been growing – thanks to the incredible support from women like you – and we’re expanding our medical team to meet the demand for personalised, exceptional care.
But we don’t want you to have to repeat your story to a new doctor, or feel like you don’t have a care team that truly knows you.
Our new Annual Care Membership is how we do that.
It keeps you on my books between appointments. It keeps your chat access open, so you can reach out when something changes or you need guidance. And it means that when you do need us, you’re coming back to a team that already knows your story.
No reintroductions. No retelling everything from the beginning. Just connected care, on your schedule.
Limited memberships are now available, until our books fill up.
What’s coming up
🗣️ Upcoming community workshops
Join our free community workshops this month for practical, evidence-based support designed to meet you where you’re at.
No pressure.
No fixing.
Just community, education and choice.
😳 Digestive Health & Nervous System
🗓️ Monday, 6th July | 6:30PM
👟 Movement & Menopause
🗓️ Thursday, 25th July | 12PM
🛌 Sleep & Menopause
📅 Thursday, 9th July | 12PM
📅 Monday, 27th July | 6:30PM
"Getting the right treatment has made me strong, clearer headed and improved my sleep. I feel like my usual normal (but wiser) self!"
Lisa, age 52
Whether you’re dealing with sleep issues, brain fog, mood swings or libido changes, I’ll take time to understand the root cause and explore practical, evidence-based solutions.
Feel like yourself again in 2026 and join our signature 12-week program for real, measurable outcomes.