Hi, I’m Dr. Melinda Elder.

I help active women overcome pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and movement limitations so they can get back to doing what they love.

I’m a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, wife, mom of three, and CrossFit enthusiast.

Movement has always been more than exercise to me - it’s freedom.

When I'm not treating patients, you'll probably find me...

  • 🏋️ At CrossFit chasing a new PR.

  • ☕ Starting my morning with coffee.

  • 🧳 Planning our family's next adventure.

  • 🌲 Outside with my husband and three kids.

  • 📚 Reading about strength, performance, leadership - or the occasional smutty hockey romance or latest romantasy (#IYKYK)

  • 🏀 Cheering on Kentucky basketball (Go Cats!).

A few fun facts...

My first job in sports...

I worked with the University of Kentucky Women's Basketball team during college, where I discovered how much I loved helping athletes perform at their best.

I'm a problem solver.

My favorite part of physical therapy is figuring out why something is happening—not just treating the symptoms.

I practice what I preach.

I lift, train, and challenge my own body every week—which means I understand the frustration of injuries, setbacks, and working back to where you want to be.

My favorite patients?

Women who want to get back to doing hard things.

Beyond the Clinic

Outside of the clinic, I'm a wife, mom of three, and someone who genuinely loves living an active life. You'll usually find me at CrossFit, spending time outdoors with my family, dreaming about our future home near the ocean, or cheering on my kids in whatever adventure they're tackling that day.

Like many of the women I work with, I know what it's like to feel frustrated by your own body.

I struggled with bladder leakage from a young age and underwent surgery as a teenager. Then, after having children, the symptoms returned. I remember wondering if this was just something I'd have to live with—that maybe leaking was simply part of motherhood.

It wasn't.

Once I understood how the entire body works together—not just the pelvic floor—I was able to get back to lifting, exercising, and living confidently again.

That journey changed more than my symptoms. It changed the way I practice physical therapy.

Today, my goal is simple: to help women stop settling for "good enough." Whether you're trying to return to CrossFit, run your first race, keep up with your kids, or simply move through life without pain or leaks, I want to help you feel strong, capable, and confident in your body again.