I ruptured my achilles practising a very innocuous footwork drill in a badminton class – something I’d already run through about 50 times – when I felt as though someone had kicked me really hard on my calf. Later on, other players told me that they heard it snap. Fortunately my coach knew that something serious was wrong and we got to A&E within an hour. I didn’t set foot on a badminton court again until almost a year later.

Initially I found the experience of this injury quite devastating. I was in a cast, housebound and could hardly get up and down stairs. My social life revolved around badminton and work so I worried that I was missing out on everything I enjoyed. I was lucky that during my recovery my badminton coach was in constant contact and kept including me in lots of activities. Likewise people from work often popped round to entertain me.

“It’s been a very hard road but I have a fresh approach to the sport I love, I am fitter than I’ve ever been and I’m looking forward to improving my game in the months to come.”

Despite this I was in an emotional hole by the time I met Kriss 6 months after the initial injury. I was considering whether I wanted to ‘bother’ to play once more; all of my friends – except my coach – took it for granted that I would never do sport again. I had been signed off by the NHS but I could only just about walk and knew that this was never going to be an acceptable level of fitness. I had scant experience of gym work but Kriss said

“…trust me, follow the programme, and I guarantee you will be back better than ever…”

I found this an inspiring approach because he was so clear and confident. One of my biggest takeaways from my association with SFE is that hard work is rewarded. I’ve realised that even when I think my tank is empty I do still have a bit more left. Working with Kriss has also changed my approach to training: I understand now how important it is to execute movement correctly rather than just try and run through reps as quickly as possible. I have transferred this approach to badminton as well. I’ve decided to start from fresh and relearn basic techniques so my foundation skills are solid and less likely to lead to further injury.

In hindsight I would strongly encourage people going through a similar injury to start work with a Physio as quickly as possible; having some short-term and long-term goals are hugely important. It’s also good to reach out; being injured is so tedious but I have learnt that friends welcome a message or phone call and are only too happy to drop round to offer a glimpse of the outside world.

In the end I have to regard my injury as a positive experience. It’s been a very hard road but I have a fresh approach to the sport I love, I am fitter than I’ve ever been and I’m looking forward to improving my game in the months to come. I would never have got anywhere near to this position without Kriss, not in a million years. It’s not only about the gym work. SFE have offered empathy, support and a genuine feeling of community, I’ve met some great people and I’m really enthused about what I can achieve in my sport in the next few years.

In hindsight I would strongly encourage people going through a similar injury to start work with a Physio as quickly as possible; having some short-term and long-term goals are hugely important. It’s also good to reach out; being injured is so tedious but I have learnt that friends welcome a message or phone call and are only too happy to drop round to offer a glimpse of the outside world.

In the end I have to regard my injury as a positive experience.

It’s been a very hard road but I have a fresh approach to the sport I love, I am fitter than I’ve ever been and I’m looking forward to improving my game in the months to come. I would never have got anywhere near to this position without Kriss, not in a million years. It’s not only about the gym work. SFE have offered empathy, support and a genuine feeling of community, I’ve met some great people and I’m really enthused about what I can achieve in my sport in the next few years.

Thank you to Amanda for sharing her story

MY REHAB JOURNEY: THE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER OF INJURY