Sally Colby Ankle Break Rehabilitation

I have always kept mobile, one aerobic session per week, a couple of games of tennis and at least one skiing holiday a year. I found using the gym a rather boring experience, only a necessary evil. I decided that I should change my whole perspective on keeping fit. This, I think, was due to realising I was on the wrong side of fifty, an expanding girth, and my decision to chuck in my job!! It was with great trepidation I booked 10 sessions with Maz and my attitude at first was one of panic and fear as I wondered whether I would be able to cope with being pushed “ to the limit”.

The sessions turned out to be fun. Maz has pushed me to cycle harder, row faster and put more effort into lifting the weights, it becomes easier and attainable with guidance. Gradually I changed from going to the sessions because I thought I should go, to a person that got up that morning with a spring in my step. I can’t believe how quickly my attitude changedHaving a PT became the best thing about my gym membership and my body was beginning to change shape for the better…..I was stronger, thinner, fitter and sleeping ( at night ) the sleep of the just!! Everything was perfect!!

Four months after I started with Maz, my husband and I were on holiday in southern Spain. We went for a walk in the mountains. It was dusk and we were hurrying down a dried up river valley to the car park when I slipped unceremoniously. I heard my leg break and my ankle swishing round to the right but nothing prepared me for seeing my foot facing the other way!! I really thought that I would never walk again.

I was in a plaster and totally inactive for seven weeks. Firstly, I was in need of physiotherapy. Quite by chance I found a wonderful young Australian physio, Rohan, who seemed to be on the same wavelength. The sessions with him were tough but from the outset he encouraged me to get back to the gym, aqua aerobics at first and lots of swimming and then back to Maz for rehabilitation. He wrote to Maz giving her his thoughts on what I should be able to tackle.

Unfortunately though within a few weeks I found myself having operation no2. There were floating bits of cartilage in my joint and they had to be removed as soon as possible. Another four weeks passed and I was back having rehab with Rohan and at the gym with Maz. I couldn’t believe that I was now having to start all over again. Maz constantly researched new programmes for me and I became a whiz at throwing medicine balls whilst standing on one leg on the Bosu, not easy, but fun!

Operation no3 was to take out the metal work which appeared to be compromising the tendons down the side of my leg. This time physio and rehab started as soon as the stitches came out and here I was, once again, starting from square one or actually probably behind square one. Nevertheless by this time my, “keep Sally moving team” was already in action and we started all over again! Third time lucky, it was another eight months before I finished my physio and I felt blessed that I had had so much help from such enthusiastic young people so dedicated to their clients. They both picked up on my desire to succeed and carried me forward with them.

All in all it was two years between my fall and the end of my rehabilitation, I had three operations and 21 months of physio and a careful exercise regime to get me back on track. I now enjoy 3 spinning sessions per week and have maintained my PT sessions with Maz. I have learnt never to say “I can’t do that” and am looking forward to my next skiing holiday.

I am much fitter and stronger than ever and whilst I recognise accidents do happen I feel that I’ve achieved what I wanted to and could do it again. Without the accident I would never have had the motivation to have got myself to this level of fitness.