Three goals, one bad knee
Shashank arrived at ATP carrying a long-standing ACL injury and three clear goals: improve his appearance, ease his chronic knee pain, and build strength through calisthenics and bodyweight training. None of it was straightforward. His knee would flare up without warning and interrupt his training, and his existing strength and body weight stood between him and the bodyweight work he wanted to master.
I did not imagine that I’ll be able to achieve all those goalsShashank
Working around the hurdle, not through it
Rather than push through the pain, Shashank and his coach worked around it. As he put it, his knee pain should not be allowed to hinder his progress. ATP heard that determination and built a training programme tailored specifically to his injury, adjusting exercises and progressions so the knee stopped dictating what he could do in the gym.
I knew I needed to work around these hurdles. My knee pain should not hinder my progress.Shashank
Staying the course
The road there was not smooth. There were times Shashank was tempted to throw in the towel, especially when the knee flared up mid-session. He leaned on a mantra instead: I can achieve my goals despite my knee. Repeating it kept him pushing forward, driven by a genuine desire for transformation and strength rather than a quick fix.
I discovered that I can achieve my goals despite my knee problems.Shashank
Shashank’s advice for anyone starting out
Set clear, concrete goals with your coach so you have a specific target. Don’t be afraid to personalise the plan around your own physical barriers: ATP tailored Shashank’s programme to accommodate his knee, and it made all the difference. And when things flare up, keep going by working around the problem rather than pushing through it.
The comeback
Shashank now trains consistently, all three goals within reach, and treats his knee as something to plan around rather than something holding him back. What started as rehab turned into a full rebuild.
Every setback is a setup for a comeback.Shashank
Coached at ATP Personal Training Singapore
