Phil, 32 is a Business Studies Teacher
from Stoke. He enjoys a number of different sporting
activities with his main sport being karate where he is a
5th Dan black belt.
Phil is a former international karate competitor with 23
years of competition experience and has been an association
squad member since the age of 16.
In January 2005 Phil took a bad fall during training which
caused severe disruption of the Acromio-Clavicular joint in
his shoulder. He attended his local Accident and Emergency
department immediately, where he was put under the care of
two orthopaedic surgeons at North Staffordshire Hospital.
Due to the severity of the injury, surgical correction was
necessary and a LARS synthetic ligament was used to reduce
and correct the damage to the joint.
“My recovery was a painful process in the
beginning due to the nature of the operation and the
associated pain that came with it, although this was helped
by painkillers. My right shoulder was kept in a sling that
was fully adjustable for comfort and to minimise any
movement of the shoulder for about six weeks. After a short
while I returned to the specialist to receive the news that
the operation had gone to plan and that I should attend
physiotherapy to aid my rehabilitation. I then met my
physiotherapist, Rob, who reassured me about the light
movements I could use to speed my rehabilitation. The
initial treatment made me feel a little nauseous, but Rob
reassured me that this was just nerves and fear of moving my
shoulder again. I was given light exercises to raise my
right arm (without effort) guided by my left arm to extend
it fully above my head. Initially this was a tiring process
but I began to gain more strength and confidence in my
shoulder. Rob also advised me that it would probably be six
months before I could get back to karate again.
I was later released from physiotherapy treatment with Rob
saying that everything was going fine and that as an athlete
I was aware of how to manage my ongoing recovery. Weeks
after, I attended another appointment where the specialist
said that I was able to return to work and able to drive
again. I had wanted to return to get back to work straight
away, but had to counter my enthusiasm against insurance
requirements from the school. My sling came off approx five
weeks after the operation when I started to regain full use
of my right arm. Movement and strength was restricted
initially, but I soon gained the confidence to use it again
and I was soon back teaching at school and at my karate
classes as though I had not been away.
Since the operation I have been able to participate in full
sporting activities and now feel able to train to a high
standard in karate again, which I thought I would not be
able to do. My own students have been very supportive in my
rehabilitation ensuring that I did not over do my recovery
and try too hard too quickly. I am now able to drive, cycle,
play squash, swim and play golf again and I believe that I
can do everything that I did before my operation.
The operation has allowed me to continue my karate and I am
very grateful to my surgeon (Mr Smith at North Staffordshire
Hospital) and to Corin for providing the ligament
replacement which has allowed me to lead a normal healthy
life again. Thank you.
Without this operation I would not be able to lead my life
to the full and enjoy participating in sport which to me is
a major part of my life. I am now able to lead an
association karate team to take part in the SSU World Cup in
France later this year, and who knows I might even compete
myself!
