Testimonials about post injury training

I undertook a shoulder programme with Conrad over the last 3-4 months to correct long term issues I have been experiencing with my shoulders.  My arms have typically hung low causing my shoulders to round and my upper traps and teres major and teres minor to be very tight. This has redulted in some very […]

I undertook a shoulder programme with Conrad over the last 3-4 months to correct long term issues I have been experiencing with my shoulders. 

My arms have typically hung low causing my shoulders to round and my upper traps and teres major and teres minor to be very tight. This has redulted in some very painful trigger points in my back and neck as well as limited overhead range of motion for my shoulders. 

Since starting the programme with Conrad, I have noticed a decreasing need for self-massage in my upper back with fewer trigger points, more sustained range of movement in my shoulders, stronger and more prominent neck muscles (with better connection into and coordination with the upper traps). We focus on keeping my rib cage expanded in the exercises using a lighter weight but really focusing on challenging the relevant support muscles in the exercise. My posture has improved and my strength in my shoulders and traps as a result of this programme. I would highly recommend it to those who have similar issues with their shoulders and back. 

Dylan Kelly

I was recommended to see Conrad by a good friend who had trained with him for a number of years. I wasn’t sure about personal training at first as I had always thought I could do this for myself, having played sport for many years and trained lots. I was delighted to realise I was […]

I was recommended to see Conrad by a good friend who had trained with him for a number of years. I wasn’t sure about personal training at first as I had always thought I could do this for myself, having played sport for many years and trained lots. I was delighted to realise I was wrong!
I had had lower back and hip pain for at least 5 years. I also had ACL reconstruction surgery and multiple ankle injuries, ligament tears and an ankle break followed by surgery. I had been to physios and chiropractors for about 10 years which helped short term but never seemed to solve my pain issues or ability to play sport as freely as I would like. Conrad assessed my issues and worked with me to resolve my problems which plenty of medical and clinical professionals had struggled with long term. Ultimately it was all about strength and mobility. I have now been pain free and healthy to play sport, even football, for the last year. Conrad is a consummate professional and expert. He pushes his clients hard to overcome the issues they are working through. He is clear, open and driven to help his clients achieve their goals. 

Sam Hockman

“A period of CrossFit training left my shoulder in a bad state – even putting a jacket on or pushing a door open saw me grimacing with pain, let alone doing any sort of mainstream strength exercises for upper body. A few unsuccessful attempts at physiotherapy and prescribed steroid injections later, I was on the […]

“A period of CrossFit training left my shoulder in a bad state – even putting a jacket on or pushing a door open saw me grimacing with pain, let alone doing any sort of mainstream strength exercises for upper body. A few unsuccessful attempts at physiotherapy and prescribed steroid injections later, I was on the verge of booking a surgery when a colleague put me in touch with Conrad. Conrad quickly identified the underlying postural issues and designed an exercise programme which specifically targeted the problem areas without triggering the pain. After 8 months of training under Conrad’s guidance, I can again lift, pull and push and do movements which I had not imagined possible 8 months ago. Progress has been remarkable and this has kept me highly motivated to keep going to the gym and get stronger and stronger. Conrad’s training methods and advice have clearly worked for me and – muscle-ups and handstands – here I come…. ”

Gert Raig

So now I am a true believer in Kinesio Taping done by an expert like Conrad”

“Up until finding Conrad I felt like a disabled person. My knee was hurting badly and I couldn’t do a squat or lunge without pain. At first I was a bit reluctant to try out the Kinesio Taping, but knowing Conrad as a very experienced trainer, I thought I should give it a try.

Once the tape was on, my God, what a feeling. The pain just miraculously disappeared. So now I am a true believer in Kinesio Taping done by an expert like Conrad. So thank you so much for doing this for me!”

as well as being functionally strong, I look more balanced aesthetically and from the perspective of my posture.”

“Conrad has proved invaluable and when using him for both strength and conditioning work and dietary advice he works out to be a zero cost service (no more buying takeaways on a regular basis).  What makes him different; physically he helped me educate my body to work properly.  He is responsible for rehabilitation of injuries, which I once thought were incurable (for example; severe shin pain when running, pain in my right foot when standing for a long time, tight hips).  He also taken the time to get to know my physique and balanced it out so as well as being functionally strong, I look more balanced aesthetically and from the perspective of my posture.  Finally, Conrad has also educated me immensely on the importance of diet and poor food choices – I have decreased my takeaways considerably and got back in to cooking.  A combination of all of the above means at the time of writing I have taken approx. 10kgs of my weight, dropped my body fat considerably – evidence: I was asked for ID when on holiday in the US and I am 31!!!”

1 Just as important as the technical knowledge he used to build my shoulder back up was his positive attitude. Injuries can be a challenging time psychologically, but the encouragement and support that’s part of Conrad’s collaborative approach was crucial to my rehabilitation”

“I began training with Conrad in July 2012 following a succession of significant injuries, including torn cartilage in the shoulder that needed surgery. Not only was he instrumental in my rehabilitation, enabling me to train close to full throttle once again, his expertise has also improved my conditioning to the best it’s been in 20 years of training.

Just as important as the technical knowledge he used to build my shoulder back up was his positive attitude. Injuries can be a challenging time psychologically, but the encouragement and support that’s part of Conrad’s collaborative approach was crucial to my rehabilitation.

In terms of conditioning, his knowledge is extensive. After a few sessions I had a more structured and technically focused approach to training that has resulted in greater muscle definition and balance. As a 37-year-old my goal is to be able to train for as long as possible while staying injury free and Conrad’s guidance is helping me achieve this.

Finally, Conrad has managed to overhaul my diet, reducing my vast consumption of sugar. I now have a healthier diet that better supports my training and his ability to push the right buttons in terms of motivation means it wasn’t that difficult to make the change.

I continue to train with Conrad and have recommended him strongly to family and friends –  I can’t offer any higher praise than that.”

Conrad cares about his clients. He is a true professional, who is always seeking to further develop his skills. I leave each session feeling better than when I arrived, and I recommend him to everyone I know.”

“Training with Conrad has improved my well-being beyond measure. After two knee surgeries, and countless hours with physios and trainers, I was in pain and not happy with my level of fitness. Conrad began by using Kinesio tape, and designed a program that centered on building strength and improving my gait. Conrad’s sessions are focused and challenging, and he creates personalized “homework” assignments. Conrad looks at the entire picture of your health: nutrition, breathing patterns, strength, flexibility, dietary supplements, even what type of trainers are best for you. Within a few months I was able to run again, and wearing a smaller dress size, too.

Just over a year into our training I became pregnant, and Conrad was brilliant at adjusting my workouts to accommodate my new needs (and growing belly!). I was training with Conrad right up until the day before I went into labour. I resumed training eight weeks after my daughter was born, and, again, Conrad created a highly-personalised workout for my post-natal health, which helped me to quickly return to my pre-pregnancy fitness levels. 

Conrad cares about his clients. He is a true professional, who is always seeking to further develop his skills. I leave each session feeling better than when I arrived, and I recommend him to everyone I know. Conrad uses the latest technology together with tried and tested methods to help me reach my goals, and I am truly grateful.”

After only 10 sessions with him there was a notable difference. My friends and family started to notice I was walking differently, the pains in my knees were getting better.”

“After having both my knees operated on a few years ago I finally took stock of my problems and went to see Conrad O’Hagan.

At that time I couldn’t kneel, walked in a very strange way and came downstairs sideways. After only 10 sessions with him there was a notable difference. My friends and family started to notice I was walking differently, the pains in my knees were getting better and I was beginning to forget to protect my knees, something I was constantly aware of. I had never thought of a personal trainer before, thinking this was the world of the sportsmen and women, and certainly not for a woman of a certain age as myself. So a big thank you to Conrad from all the over 50’s”

Conrad has helped me achieve far more than I ever thought possible… Now I am immeasurably healthier, fitter, stronger, happier and even feel younger – dreamy for any woman in her mid forties!”

“Conrad has helped me achieve far more than I ever thought possible.  I originally just went to see him about a problem with my hip that was starting to prevent me walking and cycling. Now I am immeasurably healthier, fitter, stronger, happier and even feel younger – dreamy for any woman in her mid forties!

I trust Conrad’s knowledge and judgment implicitly. He has encouraged and empowered me to do many things on my own, but is also constantly learning, honing, reflecting on what is right for me; gently pushing me to achieve more without me noticing, always knowing when to go the next step. And always in his lovely, calm, fun way. My staff are benefiting, too – through me they see that keeping fit and eating well are important, and all have given very positive feedback from Conrad’s group sessions. 

Conrad is exceptional, and gently contributes to my life in so many ways. I shall be eternally grateful to my friend who recommended him to me.”

I credit Conrad O’Hagan’s advanced strapping techniques for enabling me to perform despite injury, and more importantly, for speeding the recovery time of the injury”

“In 2010 I damaged the muscles in my left ankle playing rugby. After a few weeks off I played again, using a standard compression tape technique on my ankle for support. This worked for the first game, although I suffered from reduced movement and speed. In the second game I re-injured the ankle despite the compression tape.

This is when I decided to visit Conrad O’Hagan, who convinced me try his new strapping technique using Kinesio Tape. Conrad applied the Kinesio Tape in narrow strips to support each individual muscle in my foot. Needless to say I was skeptical, as I had not seen Kinesio Tape before (it was a few months later that I noticed professional athletes using it) and I could barely feel the tape on me. It allowed me so much movement that it felt like nothing was there.

After receiving the strapping I played rugby, expecting that the Kinesio Tape would not work, and that I would need to retire injured. You can imagine my surprise when not only did I complete the match, but I did so with almost 100% movement and no ill-effects. The tape lasted for another match before I visited Conrad for a re-application. This was the only re-application I needed, as the ankle healed more quickly than expected.

I credit Conrad O’Hagan’s advanced strapping techniques for enabling me to perform despite injury, and more importantly, for speeding the recovery time of the injury. I have since continued to seek out Conrad for the management of any niggles, injuries and ongoing wear and tear, and would recommend him to anyone else in a heartbeat.”