HEALTH
PHYSIOTHERAPY
A CASE
STUDY
Brian’s story…
“Without a doubt the intense physiotherapy
has helped me get back to full fitness. The final
achievement for me was passing my annual fitness
test recently which was almost twelve months to the
day since my operation.”
Station Manager Brian Steadman, 48, who works at
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, was diagnosed with
advanced osteoarthritis in his right hip four years ago.
After undergoing a total hip replacement, Brian visited
Jubilee House for two weeks rehabilitation which
helped him get back to full operational duties after
just seventeen weeks post-op.
Brian says; “When I was younger I used to race
motocross bikes and I had suffered a few injuries.
Four years ago I started to get pain in my groin. After
diagnosis the doctors tried various treatments and
then finally last year, they agreed to operate which
resulted in a total hip replacement.”
“About twelve months earlier I arranged for a
firefighter to go to Jubilee house following a total hip
replacement bizarrely. So, he had been and he was
singing its praises. So there was no question for me to
apply. He actually came to visit me whilst I was there!”
Brian had been off crutches for three weeks when he
attended Jubilee House; “After discussion with the
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Charity it was recommended that if I gained a little bit of
strength at home it would make my time at Jubilee more
beneficial.”
“When I arrived, I was walking like Charlie Chaplin. I
couldn’t walk for much more than half a mile, I had a lot
of lower back pain and a pronounced limp. It was just a
consequence of the operation; that various muscles had
stopped working.”
“I went there with the mind-set to get better, so I worked
as hard as I possibly could. Then pretty much after the two
weeks at Jubilee, which was absolutely fantastic, I walked
out of there nearly without a limp and back to normal.
What they gave me was the confidence to continue doing
the same exercises as best as I could at home. I was really
chuffed.”
Brian went back to work on phased return soon after his
visit and then he gradually went back to full time duties
after a few weeks. Brian continues; “I am back as training
manager and as flexi station manager responding to
incidents when I am on call.”
Brian enthuses; “I think the Charity is absolutely fantastic. I
have always participated in the annual Car Wash. I don’t
think people realise what a wonderful facility the Charity is,
how dedicated everyone is and how much it can generally
change your life for the better. I will continue to fundraise
and raise money for the Charity, I can’t thank everyone
enough.”