A motorbike accident left Michael partially paralysed – this is how he rebuilt his strength & self-belief

Michael Grey was 24 years old when a motorbike accident left him in a coma.

When he woke up, he discovered he’d broken 17 bones, including his neck and back.

Doctors told him he had Incomplete Paralysis and would have to learn to walk again.

It was going to be very different to the gym-going, bodybuilding fitness lifestyle Michael had known.

This is the story of how coaching transformed Michael’s body, mind, and confidence beyond anything he could have imagined.

“You meet two types of people in physical rehab,” said Michael.

“There are the ones who give up, unable to see a life beyond their accident. Then there are the ones who see it as starting again, in a very different body. It seems I’m part of that group.”

Michael’s Accident Was In The Summer Of 2016.

In the years to follow, he rode the rollercoaster of lengthy hospital stays, surgery, physio, disability, and constant pain due to metalwork in his back and ankle.

Unable to ride his bike or pursue bodybuilding, he also lost friends, hobbies, and social outlets.

Then lockdown hit, and his world got even smaller. Michael was able to keep working from home, but his mental health suffered badly.

He began comfort eating, which turned to binge eating.

Before long, Michael barely recognised himself. Before the accident he’d been a fit and healthy 24-year old who got down to single-digit body fat. Now he was physically disabled and out of shape.

Mike before his accident, with the muscle doctors say saved his life[/caption]

“My medical team said one of the reasons I survived the accident was my general fitness and muscle mass,” he said.

“I was still able to exercise, and had done some gym work with my physio. But during lockdown I wasn’t able to even do that. I still had the determination to be in shape, but no idea where to start.”

Mike and I knew each other from years ago, and I had actually trained him a long time ago when he was into bodybuilding. He reached out to see if I could help. 

Getting Into A Different Kind Of “Best Shape”

“I had never forgotten training with Joe,” he said.

“He had got me in the best shape of my life back then. I asked him if he could do it again – a bit differently this time.”

When I met up with Mike, I explained how my coaching has developed since we last worked together.

My focus on mindset and personal development could support the fitness work. And I assured him that my interest in research meant he was in good hands.

I developed a very specific plan for Mike which he could do at home. We worked on balance, strengthening, stretching and functional exercises which would get him moving with more confidence.

“Joe’s coaching was very different to what I was expecting, and completely exceeded my expectations,” said Michael.

“Fitness has always been my escape, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever get that buzz again. Who knew that I could get DOMS from a swiss ball movement!”

After a few weeks, we introduced weights machines into the mix and Mike was back in his happy place – the gym.

Mike was feeling stronger, happier, and more in control of his body. And then he travelled to Cornwall to visit family. And something unexpected happened.

Emotional Freedom From Physical Strength

“One of my hobbies is photography, but even that had been impacted by the accident,” said Michael. “I couldn’t crouch down and get into certain positions, and sometimes wasn’t even able to hold my camera.

“On this holiday I suddenly realised I could do all of that and more. I was astonished. Just 7 weeks of working with Joe and I didn’t even have to think about taking photos from awkward angles, or picking my niece up. The feeling of freedom was incredible.”