Trish Trumper, RMT

02/14/2026

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 (𝗣𝗘𝗠) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱

PEM is a hallmark feature of long COVID, affecting approximately 80% of patients (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39694730/ ). It is characterized by a delayed exacerbation of symptoms following physical or cognitive activity that exceeds a patient's specific, often narrow, threshold. Crucially, these "crashes" are not merely temporary fatigue; they can persist for weeks or even result in a permanent decline in the patient's baseline health. Because of this risk, major health authorities like the WHO have cautioned against traditional graded exercise therapies for these individuals (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-clinical-2023.2).

📘In a brand-new publication, Charlton and colleagues (https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/09/bjsports-2025-111387) debunk the deconditioning myth of long covid. While physical inactivity (deconditioning) can occur in chronically ill patients, the authors present evidence that it cannot explain the specific cardiac alterations seen in long COVID:

✅ Preload Failure: Many patients suffer from "preload failure," where the heart does not fill with enough blood—a phenomenon not typical of simple deconditioning.

✅ Structural and Inflammatory Changes: Research has identified myocardial scarring, inflammation, and "leaky" blood vessels in long COVID cohorts.

✅ Mitochondrial Dysfunction: There is significant evidence of deranged mitochondria and impaired oxygen extraction at the cellular level, suggesting an energy production failure rather than just a lack of fitness.

👫 A Human-Centered Approach to Rehabilitation

The authors emphasize that because long COVID is highly heterogeneous, treatment must be personalized and data-driven. They advocate for several specific strategies:

▶️ Systematic Screening: Healthcare providers should use tools like the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire to identify PEM early and distinguish it from other pathologies.

▶️ Heart Rate Pacing: Utilizing wearable monitors to stay within the "first ventilatory threshold" allows patients to remain within their "energy envelope," preventing the repetitive exposure to PEM events that can worsen their health.

▶️ Postural Management: For those with POTS or severe PEM, gentle upright postures, supported sitting, and compression garments are recommended to prevent skeletal muscle decline without triggering a crash.

▶️ Targeted Pharmacotherapy: The use of low-dose naltrexone, beta-blockers, or pyridostigmine may be necessary to reduce the symptom burden of PEM and autonomic dysfunction.

💡Ultimately, the paper concludes that cardiac alterations in long COVID are largely independent of deconditioning, and safe recovery requires moving away from historical exercise guidelines toward an individually tailored management strategy.

02/09/2026

On March 1, eligible menopausal hormone therapy and diabetes meds will be covered by the new National Pharmacare plan in BC 😊

“On March 6, 2025, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years. Under the agreement, 100% coverage for eligible diabetes medications, including for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), will begin in B.C. on March 1, 2026.

Expanded coverage for certain diabetes-related devices and supplies will begin on April 1, 2026.

Since B.C. already offers universal coverage of contraceptives, the Province is putting federal funding for contraceptives towards free treatment of menopausal symptoms.”

02/04/2026

Strength Training After 50: Simple Moves for Balance, Mobility & Fall Prevention

As a family doctor, I often remind patients that strength training is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent falls and preserve independence as we age. You don’t need a gym or equipment to get started—just your body and a few minutes a few times a week.

Here are safe, beginner-friendly body-weight exercises for adults over 50:

1️⃣ Sit-to-Stand (Chair Squats)
• Sit in a sturdy chair, arms crossed or lightly on the armrests
• Stand up slowly, then sit back down with control
• Strengthens thighs and hips—key for getting up safely
➡️ Try 8–12 reps

2️⃣ Wall Push-Ups
• Stand arm’s length from a wall, hands on the wall at chest height
• Bend elbows and lower chest toward the wall, then push back
• Builds upper-body and core strength for daily tasks
➡️ Try 8–12 reps

3️⃣ Heel Raises
• Hold the back of a chair for balance
• Rise up onto your toes, then slowly lower
• Strengthens calves and ankles—important for balance
➡️ Try 10–15 reps

4️⃣ Standing Marches
• Hold a chair or counter if needed
• Lift one knee at a time, slowly and with control
• Improves hip strength and balance
➡️ Try 10 reps per side

5️⃣ Single-Leg Stance
• Stand near a counter or wall
• Lift one foot slightly off the ground
• Builds balance and fall resistance
➡️ Hold 10–30 seconds per side

How often?
Aim for 2–3 times per week. Start slow. Good form matters more than doing more.

Important reminders:
✔️ You should feel challenged, not in pain
✔️ Breathe normally—don’t hold your breath
✔️ If you have new pain, dizziness, or a history of frequent falls, check in with your doctor or a physiotherapist first

Bottom line: Strength training isn’t about “getting bulky”—it’s about staying steady, mobile, and independent for years to come.

Your future self will thank you 💪

01/28/2026

What is Making Sense of Pain: Online? Do you live with chronic pain? Making Sense of Pain: Online is a free nine-week program from Pain BC designed to empower you to improve your quality of life and well-being through pain education and social connection. The weekly 90-minute online group will be fa...

01/14/2026

How menopause affects arthritis

12/28/2025

12/18/2025

Wondering what illnesses are common for kids this time of year?

UCalgary researchers have created a tool to help parents and health-care professionals know what respiratory viruses are circulating in their community.

Led by pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Stephen Freedman, MD, the SPRINT-KIDS Dashboard (Surveillance Program for the Rapid Identification and Tracking of Infectious Diseases in Kids) gathers data from 14 children’s hospitals across Canada.

The dashboard shows weekly admissions for children with influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or mycoplasma pneumoniae (the bacteria that cause pneumonia).

The Public Health Agency of Canada selected SPRINT-KIDS to lead this critical initiative, positioning Canada as a leader in pediatric respiratory pathogen surveillance.

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4qfoHbj

Check out the dashboard: https://dashboard.sprint-kids.ca/

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | University of Calgary

📷 Photo by Leah Hennel

12/18/2025

Age may try to whisper, “Slow down. Sit. Rest.”
But your body remembers a different truth:
You were built to move.
You were forged for strength.
You were meant to rise.

You are a warrior of your own body.
Your joints may creak, your muscles may ache,
but the fire inside you do not fade it sharpens.
Movement is your armor. Strength is your sword.
Every motion writes a story of resilience, power, and vitality.

Retirement from movement is a lie.
The day you stop moving is the day you start losing
more than muscle you start losing freedom, independence and the joy of being alive.

Walk.
Lift.
Stretch.
Dance.
Play.
Move to honor your body, to awaken your spirit,
to celebrate the strength that only years of experience can give.

Share this with someone who thinks age is a limit.
Remind them that the fire never dies and movement is the spark.

12/17/2025

Rounded shoulders is where your shoulders are rotated forward, pulling the shoulder girdle forward, which shortens your chest muscles and stretches your upper back and trapezius muscles. It is often a result of upper cross syndrome, which includes a forward head posture and kyphosis. Upper cross syn...