Wellness

THE NEW YEAR has been and gone and with it often comes a great many resolutions. For others this is merely a ‘wish’. A New Year’s Resolution is really a goal that we set at the beginning of the year and 5 out of 10 of these resolutions are related to health, fitness, and wellness.

Then for others of us adversity can strike at any time, and we can be left with no choice but to commit to recovery and rehabilitation. Well, that is what Neil faced in April last year, when he was involved in a horrific bike accident.

Neil is a keen cyclist, with several bikes who would ride 4+ times a week and think nothing of riding 50km+, together with regular gym work to maintain strength and good functional movement.

Neil sustained significant life-threatening injuries resulting in him being transferred to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and having many intensive surgeries.

“22 broken ribs, 2 punctured lungs, 2 major surgeries & 13ish titanium plates and who know how many pins in his chest, blood clots in his lungs and legs, 3 fractures in his pelvis, C5 fracture in neck, T3 fracture in back, broken clavicle, fractures in his eye socket & post traumatic amnesia” Kate his wife says.

Neil overcame the odds and made an incredible recovery and was transferred back to the Royal Hobart Hospital in June of 2021. Being so fit and healthy has been a definite and significant advantage in Neil’s recovery.

In the last 6 months Neil has worked progressively and vigilantly with his medical team and he is now back at Personal Best, following this rehabilitation program and adding in some ‘extra’ exercises of his own on occasions.

At the end of October Neil had his first bike ride, just a ‘lazy’ 10km and then progressed to 20km and 30km rides on the bike track. It’s incredible to think that just 6 weeks prior that Neil was on a walking frame, learning how to walk again.

If you ask Neil how he is, he jokingly says, ‘everyday above the ground is a good day’, having starred death in the face. A doctor who attended the accident scene did not expect Neil to live. Neil credits his remarkable recover to being fit and having a strong heart.

‘When I was in a coma, it was as if my heart just took over and kept me going while my body was fighting all of the other trauma.’

Neil’s doctors, physiotherapist and friends regularly comment on how advanced he is in his recovery, more than they were expecting. However, Neil has high expectations for himself, but is learning not to rush the recovery and rehabilitation as he works towards being able to ride his bike every day!

We are all inspired by Neil’s inner strength and tenacity, an inspiration to us all as he continues his recovery.

Often getting started in your journey is the biggest hurdle for us. Remember you have the power to change the way you look, feel and function.

Personal Best Fitness have helped and inspired hundreds of people to feel, look and function better. Their certified Personal Trainers have simple tips and easy to understand advice that will give you amazing results.

• Have you had enough of being • Have you had enough of being in pain, in pain, being overweightbeing overweight or not achieving a result? or not achieving a result. . . • Take advantage of our FREE 1 week pass • Take advantage of our FREE 1 week pass • Change the way you look, feel and function NOW • Change the way you look, REAL PEOPLE, feel and function NOW REAL RESULTS. REAL PEOPLE, REAL RESULTS.

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