Oxford strongwoman urges people to keep moving after injury as many accept pain as permanent
Former World's Strongest Woman shares her battle with chronic pain
An Oxford strongwoman who once “could barely get off the sofa” is urging people not to give up after injury, as new figures suggest many are resigning themselves to ongoing pain.
Research from mobility coach Tom Morrison found nearly two thirds (65%) of UK adults say they have accepted some pain as permanent, while almost half (48%) say injury has affected their confidence or identity.
Meg Robson-Austin, from Oxford, says her own experience shows recovery can start with something as simple as movement.
The 2024 World’s Strongest Woman stepped away from competition more than a decade ago while struggling with repeated injuries and chronic fatigue.
She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition which made it difficult to complete daily activities and care for her daughter who was young at the time.
“If I picked her up and played with her, I would be a right off for a few days," she said. "If I wanted to clean the house, I probably wouldn't be able to go to work. It was a vicious, never-ending cycle."
She said the impact was not just physical.
“It made me feel like I was failing as a parent, like having to choose every single day between a job and my own child," Meg said. "I started spiralling quite badly and was a shell of my former self."
The research reflects that wider emotional toll, with many people reporting frustration (46%), anxiety (43%) and depression (24%) during recovery. It also found 89% believe the emotional impact of injury is underestimated.
Despite this, only 52% of people include flexibility and mobility in their rehabilitation, even though 91% agree moving well affects how they feel day-to-day.
Meg says focusing on small amounts of exercise helped her begin to rebuild.
“Even just doing some basic movements and recognising that I can do it picked up my mental health,” she said.
“I realised I can achieve things, even if I start off very, very slowly.”
That gradual approach helped her return to elite competition, going on to win the World’s Strongest Woman title in 2024.
She now trains four to five times a week but says recovery remains her top priority.
“If I run out of time, I will always prioritise mobility over training,” she said.
Meg is encouraging anyone suffering from an injury not to give up hope.
“The harder the battle, the more worth it is," she said. "There's always a way around something, even if it means changing paths, but you don't have to just stop and do nothing."
Meg is currently taking a step back from competition after a recent hip injury, but says she plans to return.
“I’ll definitely go back and qualify for Worlds again," she said. "There’s no way I’m done yet."