Some journeys are all about never giving up. For Lauren Jackson, a GB strength and conditioning coach, getting back to the sport and lifestyle she loves felt out of reach for a long time. Today, thanks to one simple injection, she’s training fully again, and her story is one of real hope.
A Life Built on Movement
Lauren has always been an active person. Strength training, bodybuilding, judo, and any activity that gets the body moving. It’s not just her passion; it’s her career. As a coach, staying active isn’t optional, it’s part of the job.
But her knee had been through a lot. Two previous ACL reconstructions and another surgery had left it with significant damage. Every time she tried to return to normal training, inflammation and pain got in the way. It affected her workouts, her daily life, and even her ability to do her job as a coach.
Searching for an Answer
Lauren had tried many things, surgeries and other injections, but nothing brought the inflammation down enough for her to truly get back to normal. At one point, she almost lost hope that her knee would ever feel better.
Then, during an assessment with her physiotherapist Ben Harper in the UK, she was introduced to a new option: a single injection called Cingal. Ben listened to her history, understood what she wanted to achieve, and suggested it might be the right fit for her active lifestyle.
What Made It Different
Ben explained everything clearly. The injection is a mix of a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, the biggest dose you can get, combined with a small amount of a corticosteroid. The hyaluronic acid helps lubricate the joint, while the steroid gently calms inflammation. For someone as active as Lauren, this balance was exactly what she needed to get back to squatting, Olympic lifting, and the demos she does at work.
Understandably, Lauren felt nervous on the day, both about the injection itself and about getting her hopes up. But neither worry came true. Ben was reassuring throughout, and the process was quick and pain free.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Within just one week, Lauren was already noticing big improvements. The everyday inflammation she used to feel by the end of the day was fading. In the gym, she was getting more range of motion without that painful flare-up afterward. She eased back into training carefully, and the improvements kept coming.
Three months on, Lauren is fully back to training with no limits on the exercises she loves. Even better, she carries far less stress day to day. She no longer has to think about her knee during normal activities.
Her Message to Others
“It’s been an absolute game changer for me getting back to all the activity that I want to do.”
Lauren’s advice for anyone who feels like they’ve almost lost hope? Go and book in to see a physio and ask about the injection. Sometimes the answer you’ve been looking for is closer than you think.
