12/02/2026
Member Story
Susan MacInnes – Member since 2014
Susan MacInnes has been a valued member of Green Apple Wellness Centre since 2014. Over many years, she has approached her health with consistency and quiet determination. However, following a fall on 3 November, she began experiencing significant knee pain that affected her mobility, confidence, and day-to-day function.
Like many people after injury, there was uncertainty about what might lie ahead. Surgery was raised as a possibility. Confidence in the joint was reduced. Activities she previously enjoyed felt limited.
At that point, her program was carefully reviewed and modified under the guidance of our Exercise Physiologist, Charlie. The focus shifted to structured, individually prescribed strengthening designed specifically to support the knee while maintaining overall conditioning.
Charlie adjusted her gym-based program to progressively strengthen the muscles supporting the joint, improve balance and control, and reduce compensatory movement patterns. Susan also utilized the Move Health App to maintain consistency between sessions, ensuring exercises were performed correctly and regularly. In addition, soft tissue remedial massage supported tissue recovery and reduced surrounding muscular tension.
Every element of the program was tailored. Nothing was generic. Progression was gradual and measured, based on Susan’s presentation at each stage.
On Wednesday, 28 January, Susan attended her appointment with orthopedic specialist Dr Andrew Patten at St Vincent’s Hospital. Objective measurements demonstrated clear improvement in strength and functional capacity. The progress was significant enough that, at this stage, knee replacement surgery is not being recommended.
Instead, she has been advised to continue her strengthening program.
One of the most meaningful outcomes was Susan’s recent cruise. She completed the trip without crutches and was able to participate in the activities she wanted to enjoy, without pain or discomfort. That represents not only physical improvement, but restored confidence.
Rehabilitation is rarely dramatic. It is steady, structured work. It is a guided progression. It is strengthening that respects tissue healing while rebuilding capacity.
Susan’s experience reflects an important clinical principle: individually prescribed strengthening exercise, particularly for adults over 60, can significantly alter the trajectory of joint pain and functional decline. Muscle strength supports joint stability. Balance supports confidence. Consistency supports long-term independence.
Her next step will be to gradually expand her overall fitness as her knee continues to improve. Even after returning home with a short-lived chest infection, her commitment to resume her routine remains strong.
We are proud of the work Susan has done and the clinical guidance Charlie has provided. Rehabilitation is always a partnership, between practitioner and participant, and this outcome reflects both professional care and personal commitment.
Susan shared with us, “It has changed my life.”
There is no greater affirmation of the value of structured, individualized strengthening than that.
Clinical Insight – Charlie, Exercise Physiologist
“In cases of knee pain following injury, our priority is to restore strength around the joint while improving movement quality and confidence. We focus on progressive resistance exercise targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip musculature, as these play a key role in joint support and load management. Improvements are typically seen when exercise is regular, appropriately progressed, and tailored to the individual’s capacity. Susan’s outcome reflects what can be achieved when rehabilitation is structured, monitored, and sustained over time.”
