Client Story: How Julie Came Back Stronger After Two Knee Replacements
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many incredible clients, but today I want to share the story of someone who truly embodies strength, consistency, and determination—Julie.
Julie and her husband Simon first came to me about 10 years ago. They were approaching retirement and made a conscious decision to invest in their health. Their goal was simple but powerful: to stay fit enough to enjoy life fully, travel, and keep up with their growing family. From the very beginning, they both committed to regular training sessions—starting in-person and seamlessly transitioning to Zoom during the pandemic. Rain or shine, Julie and Simon always showed up.
From early on, Julie had knee pain. It was something we worked around and through in training, always adjusting movements as needed to stay safe while continuing to build strength. Over time, however, her knee issues became more limiting—not just in training but in everyday life. She told me she struggled to keep up with her young granddaughter and simple things like walking or standing for long periods were becoming a challenge. That’s when she made the brave decision to have her first knee replacement.
Rather than waiting to see how things would go post-surgery, Julie committed to prehab—training specifically to strengthen her leg muscles before the operation. We focused on building strength and mobility in a way that supported her recovery and gave her the best possible foundation going into surgery.
Her first knee replacement was a complete success, and she recovered so well that within a few months, she was back to regular training. Then, earlier this year, Julie had her second knee replaced. Again, her preparation paid off. Her recovery has been fantastic, and now she’s back stronger than ever.
Julie is a prime example of what’s possible when you stay consistent and work smart. Her progress hasn’t just been about knees or fitness—it’s about resilience, mindset, and not letting age or setbacks define what’s possible.
Here’s what Julie had to say about our sessions:
“Gemma has been our personal trainer for several years. My husband and I felt that, as we approached our 60s, we needed to improve our fitness. We thought that having our own personal trainer would enable the work programs to be tailored to our specific needs as we grew older, and this certainly has worked well for us. We started in person and moved to Zoom during the pandemic. We have 2 one hour Zoom sessions each week and every week is different! Gemma adapts our exercises to suit any medical constraints that inevitably crop up at our age. Of course, there are times when you really don’t feel like doing exercise, but knowing Gemma will be there at a specific time just makes you get on with it.
I recently had a knee replacement operation and Gemma worked with me on strengthening my leg muscles before the operation and afterwards. I am sure this helped with my speedy recovery and I have great movement in my replaced knee.”
Julie’s story is a great reminder that it’s never too late to start, and that your future mobility and strength are something you can influence—with the right support and consistency.
If you're thinking about improving your fitness, managing a medical issue, or just want to feel more confident and capable in everyday life—Julie’s journey shows it’s possible. She didn’t just get back to where she was before. She came back stronger. And nothing can stop her now.
