Discover how a patient progressed from surgery and immobility to strength, independence, and enjoying life again.

SB started her rehab journey with us in June 2023. A nasty slip in the bathroom resulted in her rupturing her patella tendon (the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone). SB underwent an operation to repair the tendon and then spent two months in a fixed knee brace which was gradually released to allow the knee to bend in stages. After the brace was removed the knee was extremely stiff and weak and we decided to start her rehab in the hydrotherapy pool.

Initially SB’s goals were to walk without crutches and to be able to bend the knee sufficiently to be able to stand up from a chair and get in and out of the car independently.

Hydrotherapy allowed her the freedom to learn to walk again without the fear of falling over. The buoyancy of the water was used to help bend and straighten the knee and as the knee became more comfortable, we were able to practise functional day-to-day activities such as stepping up and down and standing up from a seated position.

As SB’s confidence improved, we progressed to the gym with a personalised rehab programme and used a variety of equipment to help rebuild the strength in her legs. Walking improved with the parallel bars, and SB eventually progressed to obstacle courses with uneven surfaces and bollards to step over. We have focused on retraining the strength in SB’s legs by using the bike, ‘TheraBand’, weights and a variety of step work. Balance has improved using wobble boards and single leg balance games.

The new addition of our dynamometer has also been a great way to measure leg strength and has objectively shown SB her progression in strength over a period of time.

SB has come a long way since the start of her rehab journey. Over time, her goals have evolved, and she has recently achieved two major milestones: travelling away independently and joining her family on a trip where she enjoyed badminton, bowling, and even a visit to London to see The Lion King.

If you need a personalised plan to help you reach your rehab goals, contact us today to arrange your initial rehab assessment and discover how we can support you to reach your potential.