A man who spent an agonizing year confined to an armchair is now experiencing a renewed sense of life, thanks to his hard work in the gym.
Mick Frankish, 78, faced severe pain after two hip surgeries, which left him struggling to walk and even reach his bedroom. His life came to a near standstill, and physiotherapy failed to speed up his recovery. In search of a solution, Mick joined a gym near his home in Clifton Moor.
After ten months of twice-weekly sessions at Complete Life Fitness, Mick has regained his mobility. He can now walk, visit his allotment, and enjoy an active lifestyle again.
Before his surgeries, Mick led an active life, working in farm and forestry and later at Rolawn in Elvington. He also spent time mowing the grass at Breezy Knees Nursery before retiring. However, over time, his hip pain worsened, leading to hip replacement surgery six years ago. While initially providing relief, the metal rod inserted into his hip became loose, causing friction that led to a bone fracture.
Mick underwent another surgery to insert a longer rod into his leg, extending nearly to his knee. However, his recovery remained slow, despite regular physiotherapy sessions.
In May last year, Mick joined Complete Life Fitness, a private gym offering personalized training for people of all ages, including injury rehabilitation. At the gym, Mick worked closely with a team of trainers who helped him rebuild his strength, stability, and balance, starting with massage therapy and progressing to stretches and weight-bearing exercises.
When Mick first joined the gym, he was unable to walk without crutches. However, after just nine weeks of training, he was able to drag a 20kg weight across the parking lot.
Reflecting on his journey, Mick said, “For a year and a half after the operation, I couldn’t do anything. I lived in my chair. I couldn’t even get to the bedroom. The only place I could get comfortable was the chair. I’ve lost five years of my life with Covid and this.
“Going to the gym has made a huge difference. When I started, I needed two crutches. Now, I don’t use them at all. The team has been incredible. I can walk around the house and down the street to my allotment. Julia and I are planning to plant this year, which is a massive difference from last year when I couldn’t do anything. I’m still improving and have no intention of stopping.”
Stephen Morrison, the founder of Complete Life Fitness, said, “I see people discover strength they never knew they had, face their fears, and become heroes. Mick is living proof of that. This is exactly why I became a personal trainer – to change lives.”
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