Alison's Inspiring Recovery: A Physiotherapy Success Story

I had a weak back. That’s what I had become accustomed to living with. I gave up volleyball when I was 25 because it aggravated my lower back, and got on with life. Occasionally visiting osteopaths, physios and chiropractors when my back froze, but never really feeling that there was anything I could do to avoid the problem. I still managed to be very active, but was always very careful not to overdo it. That was until I took up orienteering. I liken it to cross country running whilst your brain is doing the crossword or a sudoku - running as fast as possible was not as important as navigating accurately which kind of suited my physical situation - my back problem persisted every now and then, but no more than usual. However, as I became a better orienteer I realised that I wanted to compete, and started training more intensively. I started visiting an athletics club to improve running performance, but following a sprint session one evening, it was evident my back could not put up with the intensive ask. I woke up the following morning barely able to move and spent most of the following three days lying on the floor. A month later my mobility had improved, but I was still quite limited in what I could do. Coincidentally, my husband had injured his ankle and had been recommended by a friend to try Kesson and so ended up seeing Charlie. My back issue was mentioned in passing and Charlie confidently predicted he knew exactly what the problem was and that I should make an appointment. Following 20 years of treating the symptoms and not the problem, I was rather cynical, but went along anyway. I immediately hit it off with Charlie and following several functional tests made a swift and simple diagnosis. The first person to actually understand what the problem might be and how it might be solved. I wasn’t sure I believed it, but I followed the simple set of exercises to strengthen my posterior chain, and hey presto after three days I was pain-free and moving normally. Over several months the exercise regime changed as my muscle imbalance was rectified, and i was able to get back to training. My back still gets tight every now and then, but I can manage it proactively. I still get injured, but now it is not always my back, and it probably stems from the fact I am punishing my body regularly training and competing, so I see Charlie every month to help me keep pushing my physical limits. And last month I ran for England in the Orienteering Veteran Home Internationals. Thanks Charlie. Thanks Kesson!