Hilary Stitt Physiotherapy

03/04/2026

🐣Easter weekend challenge..🐰

'Flopping' into a chair becomes a real habit for many. The relief of a seat to rest in when you need that support you is very inviting. 🪑

But with the flop is a lack of control.

It's a move we do often and therefore a real opportunity to use our leg muscles throughout the day and an opportunity to build in some strength, control and awareness of how we move. ☺️

For the Easter weekend challenge TRY THIS...

"🦥How slow can you go?" How slowly can you sit down into your chair and keep control, before the flop comes in at the end.

Make it conscious, be aware of it...awareness is always the first place to start. Then start to 'SIT A LITTLE SLOWER'. 🐌

Ask a friend or family member to watch you sit. Do they see a flop at the end?

Sitting in a controlled manner builds muscle strength, supports bone health, engages your core 'middle', protects your spine (if your bones density is compramised). 💪🦴

Let me know how you get on in the comments.

I guarantee that the more you work on the control down, over times the less flop you will have!

05/03/2026

Perfect dry weather day to practice car transfers!

Getting in and out if the car if something many of us take forgranted, but mobility issues and long term health conditions can make this a very challenging task.

So we grabbed the opportunity today with dry weather to practice getting in and out if the front passenger seat of the car.

Many people travel as passengers in wheelchairs in the back of cars, but its more more satisfying and pleasant to be in the front seat.

It can take practice, and lots of rehab to achieve it, but I look forward to waving this passenger off next month as they go away on a long weekend as a front seat passenger!! 🥰

24/02/2026

🐾 Floss the dog was very confused as to why I was asking her dad to do lots of peculiar movements with weights on his ankles...she kept her eyes on me and stayed close to make sure he was OK the whole time.

But what Floss doesn't know is that...

😊 It's really important for him to keep moving, and these structured exercises will help him to stay strong and walk you down the lane this spring and summer.

💪 These squats he is doing work all the major muscle groups in his lower body and help him to stand up and sit down from a chair, from the toilet, from the bed.

🤭 That once he has mastered these I will be encouraging him to squat even lower, so that he works the muscles through more of their range of motion to get even stronger.

🏋‍♂️ That the ankle weights provide overload to his muscles as he walks around during our sessions, which means they will get stronger. And that the weights are used in all the other exercises he does for the muscles in his lower limbs.

👍 That standing up to do as many exercises as he can will challenge his balance, and that I'm not being mean by making him wobble with balance work..I'm actually helping his brain and body learn to communicate again about staying up.

So Floss, don't look so worried. 🐾

Your Dad is doing grand..and I'm very proud of him 🥰

04/02/2026

When rehabilitation looks like coffee and scones! ☕️🍰

But what it really factored in was...

🩷 Practicing getting up and down the 12 steps to your front door.

🩷 Car transfers in and out.

🩷 Walking on uneven and unknown ground surfaces.

🩷 Getting used to progressing to two walking sticks as opposed to a zimmer frame.

🩷 Navigating smaller spaces and unfamiliar environments.

🩷 Cognitive stamina and mental energy for being out of the house.

🩷 The road to recovery after 4 months housebound following a fall and hip fracture.

27/01/2026

A great post describing different types of dementia ❤️

Did you know there are many different types of dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies are four of the most common forms of dementia, and they can all affect people differently.

This is our guide to a few of the most common symptoms for each illness.

Dementia looks different for everyone, so a person’s symptoms may not look exactly as they are described here.

However by knowing the signs, we can make sure that we don’t brush off or ignore some of these lesser-known symptoms, to help everyone with dementia get a crucial early diagnosis.

Save this post for later, and if you’d like more info visit our website or give our Dementia Support Line a call on 0333 150 3456.

01/01/2026

🥰 Sending lots of love and thanks to everyone who has supported by 2025 life changes and business venture.

🤩 It's been a huge change and I've learnt so much along the way.

😍 Every social media post like, share, comment. Every word of mouth referral and kind words of thanks has meant the world.

Looking forwards to supporting my wonderful regular clients, and to meeting more of you in 2026.🥰🥰

Here's to staying mobile and strong as the year goes on..###

12/12/2025

Please DON'T think anything like this "shuffler" or any other thing like it is going to really help and reduce your risk of falls...........................

I 100% agree with the physio commenting on this here....getting STRONGER and working on your balance is the BEST way and the EVIDENCE backed way to help your mobility and stability.

If you're thinking of making moves to improve your strength and balance, please get in touch and don't be tempted by gimmicks like this....

Keep your eyes peeled on this page for news about FaME strength and balance group classes 💪 coming up next year....

They will help you far more than any 'shuffler' device ever can.....

I'm going to have nightmares about this in my sleep!

22/10/2025

📢📢 "WHAT'S GOOD FOR MUSCLES IS GOOD FOR BONES!" 📢📢

🦴 Bones are made up of living tissue. They get stronger when you use them. As a child, exercise plays an important role in making our bones bigger and stronger. But as we get older, we start to lose bone strength. 🦴

Staying active and doing exercise continues to be important as you get older. 👌

💪 It can help make your muscles stronger and helps to keep your bones strong, reducing the risk of breaks.

🙁 The most common sites for fractures (broken bones) are wrists, hips, and spines.....

After a break it's super important to rehabilitate your bones and muscles 💪 to regain strentgh and confidence!

💗 Bones stay strong if you give them work to do. The best way to keep bones strong is to do both weight-bearing impact and muscle-strengthening exercises.

😊 If you're worried about your strength, balance or bone health, and would like to know what steps you can take to protect yourself, your bones and your future, get in touch. ☎️

18/09/2025

🚗 4.30 am start to Huddersfield and back today for my final assessment for the Postural Stability Instructor training!

🤓 I managed to fit in some last minute cramming over a cuppa this morning as I got there early!

🥰 It's been an amazing learning experience that has already changed and developed my physiotherapy practice.

🥳 Fame (Falls Management Exercise) is evidenced based...that means the exercises are proven through research to work and do the job they are designed to if performed and progressed regularly and consistently.

💖 I'm passionate about supporting older adults to improve and maintain their mobility, strength and balance.

🫣 Just a few weeks wait for the results now!!

💪 Want to know more about what you can do to stay steadier and stronger?

☎️ Get in touch for information or an initial informal telephone call.

04/09/2025

😁 Why is practicing balance, and standing on one leg so important?

🥎 Today whilst walking outside with a lovely gentleman, his cute dog brought her tennis ball to him to play..and he kicked it up into the distance for his dog to chase. 🐕🐾

😊 But when broken down that kick of the tennis ball was so much more...It required strength, confidence, balance, the ability to stand on one leg. The power to swing the other leg through and coordinate his foot meeting the ball with his toes pulled up, and staying there until his heel met the ground again and he had two feet on the floor.

💪 The reality is that this kick was the result of months of adherence to a strength and balance programme...of which a large percentage is building up to standing on one leg for longer periods of time.

😬 BUT....When practicing standing on one leg, it's not necessarily about how long you can stay there.

It's about the quick balance reactions needed to get your other foot back down to the ground to be stable again, because THAT is the movement that's going to keep you upright if you stumble...those quick righting reactions that catch us before a fall; and they require practice, strength, coordination and power.

🫠 So...if you have been feeling unsteady, have had falls in the past, lost your confidence and don't know where to start....OR want to be able to kick a ball for your pooch, get in touch. 🥰🥰

20/07/2025

Availability for new clients this week -

Wednesday 23rd July 5pm

Thursday 24th July 2pm.

Or get in touch to discuss other appointment times or for a free initial telephone discussion around your challenges.