megan pomarensky

Master’s of Rehabilitation Science and Certified Athletic Therapist

Hi! I’m Megan. I’m an athletic therapist in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I’ve had a private practice and worked with sports teams since 2014, where I help you break free from the pain/injury cycles, and empower you to move and live freely again. My clinical practice has always been one-on-one, and includes working with children, adults, and recreational to professional athletes, providing injury assessments, rehab, and training techniques. I’m also a published academic author, teach in international continuing education and mentorship programs, and speak on various topics within the realm of chronic pain assessment and and management.

When I was 18, my passion for dance was sidelined by a hip injury that led me to have surgery when I was 21, and again at 23.

I’ve also walked away from two major car accidents, blew out my knee from missing a box jump, and had countless other silly injuries until I learned to slow down. So I get it - I know what it’s like to feel stuck in a cycle of pain, (re)injury, and nervousness about what’s coming next.

Since I experienced a lot of that while graduating from my athletic therapy program and starting my career, I thought rehabbing everything would be pretty straightforward…because that’s what textbooks taught me.

And even though I had a solid understanding of my conditions, and access to the best teams, I still struggled. Hard.

There were a lot of setbacks and tears, and uncertainty if I could continue the physically demanding job I wanted, or any aspect of life, really.

So I get the frustration of persisting pain, and feeling lost.

And it’s become my mission to help whoever else I can, navigate through those experiences to return to living the way they want again.

 I have taken all my experiences and combined it with a pretty packed education, to end up here,
with Empowerment Rehab and Training,
where my goal is to empower you to break free from the cycle you’ve been stuck in.

How I got here…

I graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Applied Health in 2012, and then completed the national certification exams to certify with the Canadian Athletic Therapists’ Association (CATA) shortly after.

In between attending over 50 continuing education and professional development courses/workshops in North America centred around chronic pain assessment/management, advanced rehabilitation protocols, nervous system regulation, evidence-based manual therapy, and mobility programming, I went back to school starting a Master’s degree through McMaster University. After completing extensive coursework in evidence-base practice and clinical decision making, my final project was aimed at identifying how athletic therapists can better assess and manage persistent musculoskeletal pain. I received my Master’s of Rehabilitation Science in fall 2020, and published my research findings soon after in the Journal of Athletic Training.

I have trained directly with therapists from the Prague School of Rehabilitation including Dr. Pavel Kolar, the head coaches and therapists of Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Dr. Andry Vleeming (Chairman of the World Congress of Low Back and Pelvic Pain), and many other renowned clinicians and coaching. I have also been directly mentored by Dr. Craig Liebenson.

I hold additional certifications as a Vinyasa Yoga Instructor, Steel Mace Flow Coach, and Certified Functional Strength Coach, among others, because I know the key to empowering rehab and therapy is to bridge the gap to a sustainable wellness practice, and this allows me to better serve clients, while having a greater network of professionals to provide additional support.

Along with running a full-time private athletic therapy practice and consulting for multidisciplinary (dis)ability management claims, I am currently a member of the National Certification Exam Development Committee with the CATA, where I am responsible for creation and edits of exam content, and validity and pass mark determination. I also advise/mentor independent research projects for the Sheridan College athletic therapy program, with regards to chronic pain assessment, pain neuroscience, rehabilitation principles, and mindfulness or nervous system regulation approaches.

Academically, I’ve held past positions as a lab instructor at University of Winnipeg, and as a lead examiner for the UWinnipeg athletic therapy practicum program and the CATA National Certification Exams. I was a a member of the Board of Certification for the CATA, from 2017-2024.

I’ve instructed in various continuing education platforms on an international level (for clinical and business mentorship), most recently through Dr. Craig Liebenson’s First Principles of Movement Online Mentorship, and Rountable Community.

In the field, I was a Lead Medical and Venue Coordinator at the Canada Summer Games, was on the Medical Team for the World Ultimate Masters’ Club Championships, was the Head Athletic Therapist in the CJFL for a season. I’ve also been on the sidelines at various sporting events with the Manitoba Summer Games, AAA Hockey, CJFL, University Volleyball and University Baseball.

I created the Empowerment Scholarship at the University of Winnipeg Faculty of Kinesiology, which is dedicated to empowering future therapists who understand the profound impact of combining academic knowledge with real-world experience. Aspiring to cultivate a new generation of holistic practitioners, this scholarship recognizes the pivotal role that comprehensive learning plays in fostering empathetic, insightful, and effective athletic therapists, and provides financial support to athletic therapy students attending conferences or courses. By encouraging exploration and knowledge outside of traditional academic curriculums, the aim is to provide students with the skills and perspective necessary to see beyond conventional boundaries and grasp the entirety of their clients' needs.

On a more personal note,

I’m a big fan of yoga (especially with baby goats), steel mace flows, boybands (except n*sync), pumpkin spiced anything, sunshine and the mountains, car karaoke, deadlifts, learning, making pasta from scratch, organizing things, playing at the beach, and going on adventures like kayaking, parasailing and zip-lining 🤸🏽‍♀️

I also love Clay Aiken…I’ve traveled to see him in NYC, Minneapolis, Calgary and Niagara, and meeting him might* be the best days of my life 🥰

I meditate, write, and pull tarot & oracle cards every day.
I’m also always ready to talk about crystals, astrology and human design, or to jump in a cold lake/ice dip 🧘🏻‍♀️

I am rarely without a coffee in hand, talking about my latest adventure with friends, and what I’m currently learning about 📚

My walk-up song is Larger Than Life, my favourite food is coffee, and the best book I’ve read so far this year is Women Who Run with the Wolves 💫

I’m so grateful you’re here, and for your trust in me to be part of your health and fitness journey 💛
see you soon!