Madeleine McAlister: A Story of Pain, Perseverance and Success

This episode follows the story of Maddy—someone who walked into physio as a 19-year-old with debilitating back pain. What began as a pop in the spine when reaching for her handbag, became a long, winding battle marked by frustration, fear, and fighting thoughts that she may have to live with pain forever. We trace her journey from being a CrossFit kid who could throw herself into anything, to suddenly struggling with everyday tasks, work and uni. The strength, confidence and identity she built through sport seemed to vanish overnight—and with it, the trust she once had in her own body.But this isn’t a story about pain. It’s a story about what happens after.You’ll hear how Maddy navigated the mental toll of chronic pain, the challenges of finding the right health professionals, and what it means to keep showing up even when nothing changes for months at a time. We explore the turning points—the small wins, the breakthroughs, the conversations that mattered—and how rebuilding trust in her body required first rebuilding trust in people.We talk about goal-setting when goals feel impossible, lifestyle shifts that actually stick, and the surprising role that patience and perseverance play in recovery.Most of all, this is a story of a young woman learning that healing isn’t linear—and it isn’t passive. It’s something you build.If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure whether change is even possible, Maddy’s story is a reminder that progress rarely arrives all at once. It grows slowly—through small choices, steady effort, and learning to move well, move often, and move for life.Follow us on social media to keep up to date with all things Movement TherapyWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.movementtherapy.net.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/movementtherapyaus/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://au.linkedin.com/company/movement-therapyaus