‘Running over a cattle grid was a big mistake’ – how a visit to a local pharmacy helped Yorkshire woman following leg injury

After Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar had a fall when running, Boots was able to help her feel better

“It was a dumb thing to do – a split-second bad decision,” says Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar, recalling the moment she fell over while running.

“It was a beautiful day and I was running through a field. Shards of sunlight were streaming in from a dark, shaded area, there were sheep on one side, and the colours of the countryside all around me. I was distracted by the beauty of it all,” explains Yasmin, 53, a counsellor from North Yorkshire.

At that moment, Yasmin made a decision she instantly regretted – to run over a cattle grid rather than through a nearby gate.

“My toe got stuck in one of the grids and I fell,” she says. “I cut my right knee and it started bleeding, and I had gravel in my palms. The weird thing is, I completed the circuit – it was about 5km! It must have been the adrenaline.”

Back at home, Yasmin realised she needed help. Her friend visited the local Boots pharmacy, returning with antiseptic cream and a small dressing for her cut knee.

A week later, Yasmin was still experiencing muscle ache, even though the cut had healed, so she turned to Boots for advice once again.

“The pharmacist recommended diclofenac gel, which I massage into the area if I strain a muscle, and it always does the trick for me,” she says.

“There are three different Boots branches near me, and I always know they’ll have stuff in stock and that I can talk to them – they’re really friendly and helpful.

“I love that they’re so impartial in their advice too. I never feel like they’re trying to push products; they just genuinely want to help you feel better.”

Meanwhile, as someone used to being active, Yasmin was finding her reduced mobility hard to handle.

“I hated not being able to exercise,” she recalls. “I was used to doing really high-intensity workouts, like crossfit and plyometrics, and suddenly that was off the table.”

Keen to keep moving, Yasmin sought alternative, low-impact ways to stay fit.

“I started doing reformer pilates, which is really good for injuries. Aside from that, I love long walks in nature and often dance to 90s house music at my desk when I get bored or just need some inspiration – it’s a great way to bring some joy into your day!”

Boots superintendent pharmacist Claire Nevinson says: “Aches and pains can really get you down and sometimes make you avoid movement altogether. But it is so important to try to keep moving – something as easy as walking can often ease discomfort.

Now, a few years later, Yasmin is feeling philosophical about her tumble.

“In a weird way, my accident kind of helped me,” she says. “It forced me to move more into flexibility and strength training, which is the type of exercise we should be doing as we get older anyway. I’m happy with where I’m at.”

Save up to ⅓ on selected pain relief products at Boots* – visit the website to find out more.

*Offer ends 20 May 2025. Subject to availability. Available in most stores and online. Always read the label. The Boots superintendent pharmacist does not endorse these products.