Nick Brierley has been training with Evolve Fitness since October 2020, having previously spent nine months with the team back in 2017.
He began with the 30-day experience, which introduced him to Small Group Personal Training. From the start, Nick found the coaching, structure, and variation hugely beneficial for his strength and conditioning goals.
However, his journey with Evolve became about much more than general fitness.
The Challenge
When Nick returned to Evolve, he was dealing with a long-standing pathological hip injury and was expecting to need a hip replacement within the next two years.
Despite this, Nick still wanted to:
- Continue progressing with his training
- Build strength where possible
- Manage pain safely
- Avoid giving up on fitness altogether
Training around a serious injury required careful planning, clear communication, and expert coaching.
Training With an Injury
At Evolve, Nick was able to continue developing his upper body strength while protecting his hip.
Through:
- High-volume kettlebell training using techniques new to him
- Focused work on the upper back, chest, and shoulders
- Modified lower body training that respected his injury
Nick was able to manage pain, maintain muscle mass, and continue progressing instead of standing still.
Surgery and Rehab
Nick successfully underwent a full hip replacement in August 2021.
After eight weeks of rest and physiotherapy, he returned to training at Evolve. Coach Mat worked directly with Nick’s physiotherapist to agree on a clear rehab plan.
The focus was on:
- Gradually improving range of motion
- Restoring flexibility and strength
- Using simple movements initially to ensure pain reduced
As Nick recovered, training progressed to more complex movements, including squats, deadlifts, split squats, and single-leg step backs.
The Results
Today, Nick’s results speak for themselves.
Since returning post-surgery, he has achieved:
Significantly improved range of movement
Greater strength than before his operation
Progress with squats, deadlifts, and unilateral leg work
A pain-free return to consistent training
Nick is now stronger, more mobile, and more capable than he was pre-operation.
Training Smarter With Recovery Data
A key part of Nick’s recent progress has been using Morpheus training support, provided as part of his Small Group Personal Training programme.
This system monitors:
- Sleep
- Training load
- Recovery
It has helped Nick understand when to train hard and when to back off, allowing him to overload at the right times and recover properly when needed.
Alongside this, Evolve’s InBody scanning technology has enabled Nick to track:
- Skeletal muscle mass
- Body fat percentage
- Weight and visceral fat levels
Combined with regular strength testing, this has provided clear, measurable feedback on progress.
Recent testing has shown:
- Increased skeletal muscle mass
- Reduced body fat percentage
- Continued strength gains
The Environment Matters
Nick also highlights the Small Group Personal Training environment as a major positive.
Sessions are structured but adaptable, catering to different abilities and needs. The coaches and members are supportive, making it a motivating and safe place to train, even when coming back from major surgery.
What This Means for You
If you are dealing with an injury, recovering from surgery, or worried that training might make things worse, Nick’s story shows what is possible with the right coaching and structure.
At Evolve Fitness, training is not about pushing blindly.
It is about intelligent progression, communication with healthcare professionals, and long-term results.