Dianne*
Dianne*, aged 78, came to Longevity Health & Fitness following a minimal TIA/embolic stroke, which had affected the right side of her body. She was experiencing weakness in her left lower limb, causing her foot to drag when walking. Dianne also had pre-existing balance deficits, osteoporosis, and had recently broken a finger following a fall prior to the stroke. Despite previously being active, she was now feeling more cautious, with growing anxiety about falling and uncertainty about how to return to exercise safely.
Dianne’s main goals were to improve her strength and balance, reduce the risk of future strokes and falls, correct her walking mechanics, and regain the confidence to remain active and independent.
We implemented an intensive two-month physiotherapy programme focusing on balance retraining, lower limb strengthening, gait correction and functional mobility. Sessions combined controlled gym-based strengthening with practical real-world application, including outdoor walking both with and without a stick. Targeted ankle and hip strengthening, coordination drills and gait retraining helped address the foot drag and improve walking symmetry. Given Dianne’s osteoporosis and fall history, exercises were progressed carefully to challenge her balance safely while rebuilding confidence. Fatigue levels were also closely monitored, with pacing and graded cardiovascular work integrated throughout the programme.
Over the course of two months, Dianne experienced clear improvements. Her foot drag reduced and her walking pattern became more symmetrical. Balance and stability improved, lower limb strength increased, and she became more confident walking outdoors again. Her anxiety about falling reduced, and she developed a clearer understanding of how to continue exercising safely and manage her energy levels.
Because fatigue remained a factor following the stroke, exercise load and intensity were progressed carefully. Outdoor walking was introduced gradually to build confidence, and exercises were adapted where needed to ensure safety while still providing enough challenge to support meaningful progress.
* Name changed for confidentiality
“My sessions with Patience have helped me considerably. She is an extremely pleasant person who is not only knowledgeable in her field, but also encouraging and motivating. She was able to explain what each exercise would do to improve my stability and balance and the reasons for this. She also provided me with diagrams to remind me what exercises I should continue to do in between my face to face sessions with her. I would recommend her unreservedly as a physiotherapist”
Dianne*
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