David @ DHPT

So I had a big moment this week in my recovery - my specialist has advised me that it is time to start weight bearing again. This is a huge step in my recovery.  After having 6 weeks on crutches and being unable to do so much of what most people take for granted, it was a glorious sound hearing those words from the doctor.   But it was a difficult process getting to this first step.  There was obviously the initial pain of the injury and getting over this, which took a combination of rest, medication, rest, putting up with a cast, and some more rest.  This was both fatiguing and frustrating as I wasn't able to train my clients, or myself a whole lot either.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank three groups of people.  Firstly, thanks to the group of people who have gone out of their way to look after my family and I.  Thanks to all of those who cooked meals, brought round groceries, dropped in to say hi and keep my spirits up, it ...

So as you may know by now I'm currently recovering from my ruptured Achilles tendon injury (to see how it happened read this blog post , to see how I'm progressing check this one out ).  The rehab is going well so far, the specialist was happy with what she saw and the pain has decreased which is a good sign.  But that doesn't mean it has been all smooth sailing.   Injuries come with their fair share of associated problems, so I thought I'd outline a few of the ones I've been facing and how I've dealt with them, in no particular order of importance. Firstly, pain.  Now there wasn't a whole lot of pain in the first week, which lulled me into a false sense of security to be honest.  Then the second week arrived, and the pain levels increased dramatically.  Now, I was prescribed some fairly good pain medication - Tramadol being the most effective (I got the option of getting Codeine but that messes me up in ways which I won't go into here).  I ...

So yesterday I had my first follow up appointment at the fracture clinic to see how my Achilles tendon rupture was progressing.  After a frosty greeting from the receptionist I have to say that the rest of the experience was great.  The doctors and nurses there were all very friendly and helpful, which says a lot for their professionalism as they looked like they were run off their feet. The first thing they did was to cut through the old cast.  Which felt great to get the air to my leg after it being in plaster for two and a half weeks.  Then came the words that were like torture to me..."oh and please don;t move your leg until the doctor comes to see you" Which is great if the doctor comes straight away, however it was about 20 minutes before the doctor turned up, which was exquisite frustration waiting to take it fully out of the damned thing.   Once I got it out I found something very interesting - there was no serious bruising at the point whe...

So, there I was, my training was going well, I was tracking nicely to reach my goal of 500 hours of training over the course of the year, and then I decided to organise a sparring session on a Sunday evening just for fun with some guys I train with.   Everything was going well, I was 20 minutes into the session, we were working with some intensity without trying to kill each other, I wasn't getting hit too much (except that round kick to the face - thanks Ants), and then it happened.  I stepped backwards to avoid a hook and bang (and I do mean BANG) I ruptured my Achilles tendon. It happened just like everyone I had talked to previously described it - it felt like I got kicked in the leg, I heard a huge pop (not an exaggeration - one of the guys I was training with heard it clearly from across the room), and I felt like my foot and leg were no longer connected to each other.  I went down like a sack of potatoes.  My first thought was "not again!", I ha...

We have all heard, I am sure, that we should get more exercise and that sitting at our desks or in front of the TV each day is killing us slowly.  Well, here are a few ways to get a little more exercise into your life without blocking out huge amounts of extra gym time. 1: Take the stairs This is one which I am sure most people have been told, but just in case you haven't heard it, stop using the lift at work.  Take the stairs instead.  Even if you just start by taking the stairs when going down floors instead of jumping in the lift.  This will add a little extra exercise to your day. 2: Get off the bus This one is a popular suggestion also.  Instead of getting the bus right to your door (work or home), try getting off the bus a few stops before your usual one and walking the last 500 metres or so.  It will add in a few more steps to your day and can also be a good way to unwind on the way home and shed the stress of work before walking through the ...

With the heatwave that has been going on around the country for the last few weeks I thought it might be worthwhile to go through a few simple tips around training in the heat.  Most of these are obvious but they can be overlooked either through being busy and not remembering to do certain things or trying to fit training into small windows of available time in our lives.  Sometimes we need to make some adjustments to keep ourselves healthy and safe in these sorts of conditions.  So here are 5 ways to beat the heat. 1. Water, water, water Always have water on hand during a workout.  It is essential to keep your fluid intake up in the sort of heat we have been experiencing lately.  It is also important to keep your fluid intake up throughout the day as you will get dehydrated more easily than normal.  A handy tip to prevent forgetting to take your water bottle to your workout is to always have a spare one either in your gym bag or in the car just in case...

Whats my BAG? Every year I take time over the Christmas and New Year holiday period to let my mind wander and dream about what I would like to achieve over the coming year.  I often find that during the year while I am working I don't have the mental capacity to do this type of reflective deep thinking.  IT often results in a few different types of goals - some goals for my business, some personal goals, and even some family goals (if my wife and agree). This year I didn't seem to be able to get into the right headspace to get to that great place where my mind wanders and comes to these different places.  However, as I could not seem to find this place, I decided to take a different course for my goals this year. Instead of setting a number of different bite sized goals, I decided instead to work on one Big Audacious Goal (BAG) this year.  I decided on a goal which I could track easily and that would have multiple benefits for both mind and body.  The go...