As a 68-year-old, I thought a knee replacement was inevitable after what happened last December (2024).
My diagnosis
It started with pain in my left knee, which was so bad that I could hardly walk. The doctor confirmed, after an X Ray, acute Osteoarthritis (OA) of the inner knee and signed me off work. Standard NHS physio exercises were so painful I struggled to stick with them. After a month stuck at home, getting more depressed and barely moving, I knew I needed a different solution.
The Turning Point
I was offered a GaitSmart Test, and that changed everything.
The test confirmed my knee wasn’t moving properly, but also being sedentary for over 4 weeks meant my entire lower body was weak and dysfunctional. It wasn’t just my knee, it was everything supporting it.
Armed with this data, I received personalised exercises. They were tough, but knowing they were specifically tailored to fix my issues gave me the motivation to stick with them every single day. I wanted to get better.
My Progress
● December 2024: Diagnosed with Acute OA. I couldn’t walk, was signed off work, and was at my lowest point with high pain.
● January 2025: Had my first GaitSmart test and started my personalised exercise plan immediately.
● April 2025: Had my second GaitSmart test which showed significant functional
improvement. My hips and right knee were moving correctly again. I returned to work, which gave a huge boost to my mental health.
● Ongoing: I started walking daily and maintained my exercises religiously. The pain eased significantly, leaving only the “odd twinge.” I was confident enough to book a foreign holiday.
● October 2025: My third GaitSmart test confirmed both my hips and both my knees are now moving as they should.
● November 2025: I am currently walking 2 miles per day. I am not on any painkillers, I haven’t had to go back to the doctor, and I definitely don’t feel I need a knee replacement.