Eat Move Think - From Resilience to Recovery: Lessons From the Invictus Games and other Sporting Competitions

From Resilience to Recovery: Lessons From the Invictus Games and other Sporting Competitions

02/05/25 • 17 min

Medcan’s Director of Clinical Innovation, Allison Hazell, is joined by Dr. Julia Alleyne, a Medcan family physician with a focused practice in sport and exercise medicine. Drawing from her extensive medical experience with numerous international sporting events including the Olympics and the Invictus Games, Dr. Alleyne shares insights, stories, and guidance to help inspire us all on our own wellbeing and recovery journeys.

Episode Highlights:

Fear of Reinjury: Understanding why fear can slow recovery—and how to overcome it.
The Power of Visualization: How seeing yourself succeed can boot confidence and improve performance.
Lessons from Elite Athletes: What any of us can learn from Olympians and Invictus Games competitors.
Active Rest & Rehab Strategies: Why staying mentally and physically engaged leads to better healing.
Integrating Wellness in Recovery: The role of support systems, motivation, and mindset

Key Takeaways:

Rehabilitation is not just physical—it’s mental, too
Visualization is key for confidence and recovery
Overcoming fear is essential to getting back on track
Adaptive sports help athletes—and everyday people—find new purpose

Looking for extra support in injury prevention, rehabilitation, or wellness? Visit www.medcan.com for more resources.

Episode Highlights:

Fear of Reinjury: Understanding why fear can slow recovery—and how to overcome it.
The Power of Visualization: How seeing yourself succeed can boot confidence and improve performance.
Lessons from Elite Athletes: What any of us can learn from Olympians and Invictus Games competitors.
Active Rest & Rehab Strategies: Why staying mentally and physically engaged leads to better healing.
Integrating Wellness in Recovery: The role of support systems, motivation, and mindset

Key Takeaways:

Rehabilitation is not just physical—it’s mental, too
Visualization is key for confidence and recovery
Overcoming fear is essential to getting back on track
Adaptive sports help athletes—and everyday people—find new purpose

Looking for extra support in injury prevention, rehabilitation, or wellness? Visit www.medcan.com for more resources.

Previous Episode

Navigating Challenges in Employee Health: Strategies for Success

Is your workplace ready to thrive in the changing healthcare landscape? In this episode, Tara Warren, Medcan’s Director of Growth, and Dr. Peter Nord, Medcan’s Chief Medical Officer, discuss specific strategies employers can take to shift from reactive to proactive health support.

Listen to the episode and learn about key topics in employee health, including:

The Challenge: With millions of Canadians lacking primary care access, employers need to step up to provide health solutions.
Proactive Care: The importance of annual, head-to-toe health assessments, early intervention, and ongoing support for employees.
Retention & Recruitment: How investing in employee health creates a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top talent.
Future Trends: The growing role of employers in bridging healthcare gaps and supporting workforce well-being.
Flexibility & Choice: How tailored options allow employees to customize their care, maintain discretion and privacy, and get support for specific personal health concerns such as menopause or weight management.

The strategies Tara and Dr. Nord discuss in the podcast are detailed in our recent whitepaper, the Blueprint to Transform your Employee Health Straetgy. To download this whitepaper and read further insights and recommendations, visit medcan.com/blueprint.

To learn more about our comprehensive employee health solutions, visit medcan.com/team.

Next Episode

Inspiration from the Invictus Games

Medcan CEO and Chair Shaun Francis speaks with Tony Moreau, a retired warrant officer, and Dr. Kristina Moreau, a retired captain and family physician with a special interest in sports medicine. This father-daughter duo shares their transformative experiences as competitors in the Invictus and Warrior Games, shedding light on the power of adaptive sports and the value of community.

Highlights:

Tony’s Journey: Following a PTSD diagnosis, the Invictus Games helped him rediscover connection, community and wellness through adaptive sports.
Kristina’s Perspective: From military nurse to doctor to Warrior Games gold medalist, she shares how these Games provided healing and a renewed sense of belonging.
Family Impact: The unique ways the Invictus Games brings families together and inspires hope for Veterans and their families.
Why It Matters: The mental health benefits of physical activity, camaraderie, and being part of a team.

Takeaways:

Adaptive sports create purpose, community, and healing for veterans.
The Invictus Games are more than a competition—they are a celebration of resilience and recovery.

Looking for help with your health and wellness goals? Visit www.medcan.com.

Photo by Lukas Schulze/Getty Images for Invictus Games The Hague 2020