THE ACER FITNESS
HYPERMOBILITY STORY
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
At Acer Fitness we have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by people with hypermobility and are dedicated to creating safe, effective strength and fitness programmes as a tool to manage the impact of symptomatic joint hypermobility on daily life.
We are here to help individuals with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders improve their strength, stability and stamina, and are committed to empowering you to manage your pain and symptoms and achieve your fitness goals. We truly believe that with the right guidance and support, anyone can lead a healthy, active lifestyle, regardless of their physical complications.
How it started
Hi, I'm Claudine Hillier, the founder of Acer Fitness and a leading expert in helping individuals with joint hypermobility disorder and hypermobile Elhers-Danlos Syndrome.
I started my career in marketing, before venturing into the health and fitness industry. Having established Hillcliff Personal Training back in 2007, I've had the opportunity to train many people with different goals from all walks of life. Over time I found myself started working closely with a number of physiotherapists and began to focus more on injury prevention and end stage rehab (the point where you leave your physiotherapist/osetopath and continue specific strength and conditioning training to return to or exceed your previous capabilities).
Following this I spent 3 years as a freelance Performance Coach with a leading sports injury clinic in the heart of the City of London, sharing my knowledge and expertise alongside their physiotherapists, osteopaths, sports doctors and podiatrists to provide a continuous progression of treatment, rehabilitation, corrective and functional exercise programmes. It was during this time that the hypermobility story started......
How we got here
A young family member had recently had a number of tests, indicating that she may have issues with her hypermobility, although she was too young to be formally diagnosed with EDS. A timely opportunity arose to attend a series of lectures focussing on hypermobility, run by the London Orthopaedic Clinic at the Royal College of Medicine. I went along in the hope that I could gain some insight into the condition and potentially help her.
“As I sat listening attentively and taking notes, I was stopped in my tracks by a true lightbulb moment that I really wasn't expecting. THIS WAS ME!
I’d had numerous issues with injuries and other health conditions over the years and had been trying to work out just what was going on. Was it fibromyalgia? Why did my body hurt so much, even at rest, when it was still perfectly capable of achieving high reaching fitness goals. Why were all these other things holding me back? What could I really achieve if I wasn’t so crazy tired? But there it was. It wasn’t multiple issues – it was just 1, manifesting itself in many ways. The relief was liberating. Knowing it was one thing and not 10 meant I could really do something about this!
Then the questions started – why on earth had every musculoskeletal specialist visited with a long list of injuries, or any Dr. seen never picked up on this? Why had it taken me so long to work it out? I knew I was bendy, but I had no idea that it was responsible for so many other issues I had dealt with on a daily basis. From that day on, I was determined to find out everything I could and use that knowledge and my expertise as a trainer to help others with similar stories."
How it's going
Since that fateful day in the lecture theatre, seven years ago our ever-growing team at Acer Fitness have made it our goal to help people with hypermobility spectrum disorders. Care, empathy and adaptability are what sets us apart. We fully understand the challenges faced everyday - and that every client has with a different array of symptoms, and that indeed their presentations can change from day to day.
Channelling our years of research, learning and application into helping others is hugely rewarding and we want to impart our knowledge and expertise to help as many people as possible, no matter where they are in the country. This not only includes working on a 121 or small group basis with our clients to give them a structured, tailored programme, but also in raising awareness within the healthcare community so that the dots can be connected and more people can be treated with the care and support they deserve. You can see from our reviews the many happy clients who have taken control of their condition and changed their lives through our approach.
Exercise is medicine, and with a condition that can only be managed, not cured or treated, this is truer than ever.
Hillcliff Personal Training became Acer Fitness, focussing on clients with symptomatic hypermobility issues. Acer is a derivative of the ancient Greek word meaning at the end, at the top, outermost; consummate, excellent, and so it seemed an appropriate name. (It also of course has a nod to the below.)
FOUNDER and
HEAD OF PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT
Claudine Hillier
Alongside my own fitness training I'm a keen tennis player and will be found with a racquet in hand at every given opportunity. My total love for the sport extends to my role as the marketing lead at Ravenscroft Lawn Tennis Club, and travel will inevitably include trips that include an ATP/WTA tour event somewhere in the world.
“Being a tennis player with hypermobility means that I have to manage my condition with training both on and off the court, to reduce the frequency of injury and manage pain. My own story is proof that these techniques work.”
Other sporting passions include cycling; both road and track and swimming.
Alongside a BSc(Hons) from Loughborough University, myself and the team hold a number of specialist diplomas including exercise referral, sports conditioning, corrective exercise and resisted movement training.
Described as a natural teacher and motivator, I've published numerous articles on health and fitness.