Alison Waters – 'Squash Professional'

All is going well and I have been increasing my training over the last
few weeks.

I’m working hard with physio Ed who puts me through a series of
exercises, increasing the movement as we go.

Today was glute, skipping, ladder drills, mini hurdles, lateral
movements and just making it more squash specific.

I have been doing more hitting on court and started some light routines
and exercises. The key now is not to get carried away and think I’m ok to do everything. I’m still building my training up and don’t want to rush into something that I’m not quite ready for.

I have entered the World Open in Rotterdam on the 1st November. So I
still have a good 8 weeks to prepare for this.

I can’t wait to get back into tournaments as my last one was the Cayman
Islands in April so a long time ago.

All I can do now is to work hard in training and do everything i can to
make sure I turn up at the worlds in the best shape possible. Eight weeks seems a long time but time does seem to go quickly so I will make sure every session has real focus and quality to it.

Eight weeks and counting!

Alison xx

Last week I saw the surgeon who performed the operation and he said
everything is looking good and that I can start pushing on
with the rehab. So I have started jogging and am gradually picking up
the duration and pace. I started by running on a soft springy surface
doing 10 mins of fast walking and jogging. Today I did 15 mins of fast
walking and jogging on a mixture of soft and harder surfaces. (running
track)
Also did some squash specific movement as well- side to side ghosting.

So over the next week or so I will be doing the running and movement
work every other day just to give my Achilles a good 48 hours to recover.
So far there has been no reaction the morning after one of these
sessions. So that’s a good sign and the sign I’m looking for to judge if
the session the day before had been too much.

So I’m happy with how everything is going and it’s still a steady process
and a question of seeing how everything reacts to having increased
the training load.

On another note, I’m enjoying that the football season has started again
and my team Liverpool had a great result against arsenal. So am very pleased
with that. I’m doing a fantasy league team this year so will be keeping
a keen eye on what’s going on.

Also good luck to the English men at the World Teams in Germany. Bring
the title home!

Alison xx

My rehab is going well and I have been stepping up what I have been
doing in the gym. I have been adding in squats/ lunges which tends to bring
on quite a bit of stiffness the next day. Also more balance exercises
and soon to start light jumping and foot drills.

Also I have been doing solo practice for the last few weeks which has
been great. No movement involved but I can still
get my eye back in and work on technical aspects of my game. I have
really enjoyed getting back on court and doing what I know best.

Hoping to step this up over the next few weeks and get back into some
movement on the court. No rush though and I’m just taking it all
gradually and adding bits in when the time is right. I have been
enjoying training back at Hatfield with Tony and we have had some fun
doing circuits which has been nice to get back into some competition!! (I won’t say who
wins the circuits…!)

The season has started for the girls and it has been good following the
results over the last few weeks. Though also hard at the same time
as I wish I was there competing as well.

As they say ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’..!

‘It’s been six weeks now since my operation and everything is going very
well. I have just started doing a lot of different calf exercises to get the
muscle back and to get the movement and range in my Achilles. It’s amazing how
quickly your muscles shrink! (not that my calves have ever been that big!!)

It’s mainly body weight exercises to start and a few exercises with
weight on. Gradually increasing the weight and the range as well. It’s great to
be increasing the rehab now and even though its only something small it feels
like something big.

I was told that you have to wait 6 weeks post op before you can really
start loading it up more and its amazing how quickly the last 6 weeks have
gone. I thought it would be really slow and boring but i have had great people
around me who have made things really easy! I can do as much cardio work as i
want.. on the bike and cross trainer and i have started doing some inclined
treadmill walking as well.. very exciting!!! (I’m serious)

I had an interesting email from a lady with similar Achilles problems as
me and its great that i feel i can give advice on this and use my experience to
help/reassure people.

It’s always nice if you are injured or need an operation to talk to
someone who has been through it as well. To tell you that it’s not actually as
bad as you think it might be!

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. Have a great
week. I think the sun is on its way out!

Alison x

When I got back from Cayman I saw my physio and doctor and we decided that I needed to see a top Tendon specialist to discuss my Achilles problems which I have been suffering from over the last year!

To cut a long story short I ended up travelling to Sweden to have an operation on the removal of a bone spur. This had been causing the tendinitis in my Achilles. I had a local procedure and it took about an hour or so.

The worst bit was when they put the local anaesthetic in and then when they actually removed the bone spur.

As I was awake I heard this loud banging noise which was the bone being removed. I asked to see the tool he used and it was literally a hammer and chisel!!! I took the piece of bone ( a good centimetre of two) home as a souvenir!!!

So it’s been three weeks since I had the operation and all is going well. Had a week or so on crutches and gradually eased off them, two crutches, one and now walking without. Have just started to use the bike and bringing in other exercises so am happy to be exercising again.

We went to Cornwall last week and had a great stay in a place called Looe. We took our rib out on the sea and tried our hand at fishing which wasn’t that successful!! Weather was on and off but wasn’t too bad overall.

I Have had quite a bit of spare time on my hands the last few weeks and have started Learning Spanish. I’ve Got a great audio course I’m listening to. It’s quite a challenge but i’m enjoying it. I Might need a trip to spain to practice.

So all in all everything is well. Recovery time is 2-3 months as it needs time for everything to heel. I’m going to miss the start of the season but I’m aiming to come back fitter and stronger then I was before. I have to take my time with this and not rush back and will step up the level and intensity of training gradually.

On another note.. Going to Wimbledon tomorrow. Got centre court tickets so am looking forward to that. Hopefully the sun will be shining.

Thats all for now,

Alison x

”Squash wise in Cayman…. I lost in the first round to Donna Urguhart 3-2.. All credit to Donna she played really well and was slotting it in especially in the first game. After a slow start by me i managed to get back into the match and came back from 2-0 down to take it into a 5th. Donna managed to get a few points ahead throughout the game and I couldn’t close the gap. So a disappointing result for me!

Otherwise I really enjoyed the Cayman Islands, great place and we were well looked after throughout the week with boat trips and fishing trips organised for all the players. Would have liked to have got through to play on the glass court as it was an amazing set up…..will have to wait for next year.

I was meant to be playing the Texas Open in Dallas this week which I was looking forward to. Unfortunately i have had to pull out due to my Achilles playing up so a shame all round really.

I spent a few days in Miami on the way back from Cayman. Had never been to Miami before and i really enjoyed it. We went down to south beach and had a good look around and had some great food. (would recommend News cafe on Ocean Drive)

Miami is a great place to people watch and you do see some funny sights.. a man in a pink bikini with a tattoo on his forehead saying ‘Holla’ was the highlight I think!!

Back home now and my number one priority is to get my Achilles sorted once and for all.

Will keep you posted”

Alison xx

‘’I’m leaving for the last two tournaments of the season on Friday. Starting with a ‘Gold Event’ in the Cayman Islands where I’m seeded 4. I’m really excited about playing there as I missed last year through injury and all the girls say it’s a great place and event! It will be nice to be in the sunshine and Dan Kneipp and his team sound like they are doing an amazing job of getting everything ready.

After Cayman I go straight to Dallas for a ‘Silver Event’ where I’m seeded 2. I haven’t played at this event for a few years so I’m looking forward to going back there.

In both events I’m playing a qualifier first round so will find out the night before the main round starts who I will be playing.

So first up… Cayman here we come!!’’

Alison xx