Full Interview: Inside Austin’s Hidden Wellness Frontier: Elite Medical Exercise and Its Unique Approach to Functional Movement.

by Tom McKeown

In a health-conscious city like Austin—where yoga studios, regenerative clinics, and biohacking labs are seemingly around every corner—it's rare to encounter a service that stands entirely apart. But that's exactly what Michaela Munsterman has created with Elite Medical Exercise, a specialized studio bridging the often-overlooked gap between physical therapy and traditional personal training. As part of our ATX Wellness Passport spotlight series, I sat down with Michaela to understand what sets her studio apart, and why more people are seeking out this precise and personalized path to rebuilding strength safely.

What is Medical Exercise? With Michaela Munsterman

1. Medical Exercise: A Distinct Method

   Unlike conventional physical therapy or general fitness training, medical exercise is designed for clients rebuilding function after injury or surgery—particularly those who have finished physical therapy but still need expert guidance. Michaela emphasizes, “We’re not just fitness. We’re helping people restore a better quality of life through stability, strength, and mobility.”

   
   

2. Origins and Training

   The concept was pioneered by Dr. Michael Jones in the 1980s, recognizing a gap between rehab and independent exercise. Michaela and her team have completed a rigorous certification designed specifically to understand conditions like hip replacements, patellar tendonitis, or shoulder impingements—nuances often glossed over in traditional fitness education.

   
   

3. How Elite Medical Exercise Works

   Clients come in either through professional referrals or self-research. They are not called "patients" but clients—many of whom are post-surgical, dealing with chronic pain, or seeking long-term structural support in a safe environment. “We don’t guess—we assess,” Michaela explains. Each client undergoes a personalized evaluation and receives a fully tailored movement plan, often coordinated with their existing healthcare team.

   
   

4. Who They Serve and Why

   Their client base spans from those recovering from surgery to individuals experiencing “low-grade pain” due to sedentary lifestyles or degenerative conditions like arthritis. A recurring theme is under-treatment: people cut off from physical therapy prematurely by insurance, left without further options. Elite Medical Exercise steps into that breach, helping clients continue their journey toward better mobility and strength.

   
   

5. Common Cases and Causes

   Lower back pain, joint replacements, and post-op limitations are among the most common challenges they address. But Michaela is quick to point out that many issues stem not from injury but from “mother nature”—specifically, the wear and tear of years spent sitting, standing, or simply aging. “We build tissue tolerance through mobility, stability, and strength.”

   
   

6. Customization Over Cookie-Cutter Workouts

   There’s no standard regimen. Programs are built from scratch following biomechanical assessments. Exercises vary but often include body segmentation work—teaching the body to move joints independently and functionally, a concept often overlooked in traditional fitness environments.

   
   

In a city saturated with wellness options, Elite Medical Exercise occupies a quiet but crucial space—guiding people through the most delicate phases of building back strength and improving long-term function. Michaela Munsterman has built more than a studio; she’s built a bridge between rehab and resilience. As the medical fitness field grows in legitimacy and demand, it’s places like hers that offer a glimpse into the future of integrative care—where the science of movement meets the art of rebuilding lives.

See the ATX Wellness Passport here: ATX Wellness Passport 2025