Meet Jeff

When 82 year old Jeff first contacted Physio Matters, he wasn’t looking for miracles – he simply wanted a chance to indulge his passion for photography yet again.

A lifelong photography enthusiast, Jeff’s world changed dramatically in March 2024 when a sharp decline in mobility meant he had to move into a care home.

This huge adjustment, coupled with a loss of independence, came a fear that he might also lose the hobby that had brought him joy for decades.

But Jeff wasn’t ready to give up. And neither were we. Read on to find out how Jeff is regained quality of life, one photograph at a time.

A determined client, a dedicated team

From the very start, Jeff made it clear that his goal was to get back to what he loved most. So, we set about making this happen.

We enlisted the knowledge and support of our neurological physiotherapy teams comprising of Eleanor Jones, Georgia Farrance, Sam Colby and Lilly Furse.

Their combined expertise meant they could take a comprehensive, collaborative approach to Jeff’s upper-limb rehabilitation, something he would need if he was ever going to hold, stabilise and operate a camera again.

Jeff’s challenges were significant. He was living with widespread arthritis in both hands.

Weakness and stiffness meant he couldn’t grip or support a camera, even pressing the shutter button was impossible.

Over time, he had also developed compensatory movement patterns that were making things even harder.

But Jeff’s determination was strong. Fuelled by his drive and motivation, regular physiotherapy slowly began to take effect.

Tailored therapy that evolved with Jeff’s needs

Jeff first attended the Physio Matters clinic in Royton, but the cost and unpredictability of taxi travel soon made this difficult.

To keep his rehab consistent (something essential for neurological change), we adapted his programme for the nursing home environment to allow our team to visit him to continue his therapy pathway.

Therapy began on 27 September 2024. The journey from that first session to holding a camera again would take several months. And during that time, a lot had to come together:

• Grip and finger strength to support the camera safely

• Dexterity to manage small controls

• Improved wrist mobility to position and stabilise the camera

• Reduced tone in the wrist extensors – a pattern that took nearly six months to break

• Better coordination across the shoulder girdle, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers

• Neurological ‘waking up’ to improve reaction times and communication between sensory and motor neurons

Each element mattered. Each one took time, repetition and expert adjustment. And each one was a stepping stone toward Jeff’s goal.

Hope tested, hope renewed

Rehabilitation can be a long journey, and Jeff felt that.

At the end of October, just one month into treatment, he was feeling despondent and said he’d likely give up on rehab if he didn’t see improvement by the new year.

At Physio Matters, our team don’t just focus on the treatment; the client’s wellbeing and confidence are always a key part of the rehab process, so we increased the motivational support at this point to help Jeff see the progress he was making and remind him of his end goal.

Jeff’s inner strength and resilience won out. He stuck with it, and the team stuck with him throughout.

The small improvements began to join up into meaningful gains, and slowly, the skills and control he needed started to re-emerge.

The moment it all came together

Nine months after starting treatment, Jeff achieved what he had once feared was impossible: he returned to the local park with his camera.

Holding it securely. Adjusting the settings. Pressing the shutter. Capturing the world again, one photograph at a time.

The smile on his face said everything. He had his hobby back – along with the independence and fulfilment that came with it.

A team effort, led by Jeff himself.

Jeff’s story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when determination meets the right support.

Our team provided the clinical knowledge, hands-on therapy and problem solving needed to rebuild his functional ability, but it was Jeff who put in the effort day after day.

We’re incredibly proud of his progress and even more delighted that he’s once again enjoying the hobby that means so much to him. Well done, Jeff – keep that shutter clicking!