From injury loop to the finish line: how I returned to event training after 4 years (and what it taught me as a physio).
As a health professional (and generally active person), being injured is deeply frustrating! Four years ago I took part in an endurance running event, since then I have struggled with Achilles tendinopathy, then a tibial plateau fracture; alongside of that, the demands of life and work took over and I lost my exercise mojo. Here at ReformPhysio & Pilates in Aberdeen, we see patients and Pilates clients every day, facing the exact same challenges - juggling the demands of family and work and trying to fit in time to exercise.
Working on breaking the injury / mojo cycle.
A year ago a friend and I saw the Gauntlet hybrid race was coming to Aberdeen and decided this was the challenge we needed to kick start our fitness … but this time I was going to do it sensibly! I integrated strength training into my programme with the knowledge that building a strong foundation is essential to avoid load and capacity issues (like tendinopathy). I also ensured I was regularly attending Reformer Pilates classes to work on my mobility and core stability.
The missing piece: hormones and rehabilitation.
A big part of this journey has been acknowledging the changes my body is facing as I transition through the perimenopausal period. As oestrogen declines during this phase of life, it impacts our muscles and connective tissues - all of us lose muscle mass as we age (sarcopenia) but us women lose muscle mass faster than men, making it vital that we work on resistance training to maintain muscle strength.
I started on HRT in the last year, which has helped give me the energy and mental clarity to focus on returning to exercise. I suspect it has also contributed to an improvement in my muscle and joint aches and pains.
As a team of MSK & Pelvic health Physiotherapists we see women impacted by hormonal change on a daily basis. Acknowledging the impact of decreasing oestrogen and educating and adjusting rehabilitation accordingly is essential - as are conversations for onward referral to medical partners for discussions around HRT.
Accountability and teamwork.
Training and rehab shouldn’t be done in isolation. As Physiotherapists we don’t always need to see our clients regularly, even a monthly check in can help with accountability, we know if you haven’t done your exercises! The same was true of my training for the Gauntlet; I had two friends training with me, which really helped keep me accountable, even if it was just over text.
Moving forward.
Fast forward to today. I completed the Gauntlet hybrid race with my friend earlier in September (one of the hardest events I have ever done …) and we are even talking about signing up for another in March 2027! I documented my training and rehabilitation journey on the ReformPhysio & Pilates Instagram page (find it here) and will continue to speak about the impacts of women’s health and my journey on HRT.
In the meantime, here’s the shortlist of what I learnt in the last year:
- Recovery isn’t linear, but don’t give up.
- Sleep, nutrition and hormones matter. Don’t disregard this.
- Build the engine before you push the pace.
- Don’t guess your rehab, get the right advice to ensure you are working at what you need.
If any of this resonates with you and you would like guidance on individualised rehabilitation, pelvic health or general training please get in touch with the ReformPhysio & Pilates team. You can email us hello@reformphysiopilates.co.uk, or head to the 'Book now' tab.
Laura Patterson
MSK & Pelvic Health Specialist Physiotherapist
Clinic owner