Physical and Mental Health

We develop specific and formalized programs to support your physical and mental health needs as a result of a self-referral or a referral from a medical professional.

The exercise professional will typically ensure a 6-12 week supervised program tailored to suit the needs of the referrer and the referred client, with a view to improving their health.

We support clients with the following medical conditions:

We always make sure you are exercising in a safe environment to the level that is suitable for you.

Please always feedback to your teacher if something does not feel right for you so we can advise as required or give you an alternative.

Varied movements in multiple directions are favourable. Any exercise prescription should include many exercises that will develop fitness without undue pressure on the spine such as Pilates, Yoga, walking and cycling. Core stability training and flexibility exercises will strengthen and lengthen the area surrounding the damage or irritated discs and help prevent further damage.

High Impact activity should not be performed on anyone who is recovering, or being treated for lower back disorders.

When symptoms are severe exercises challenging the lower back and hips should be delayed for a period of two weeks, or until symptoms reducing severity. When symptoms are present, patients are encouraged to focus on abdominal hollowing exercises that promote the activation of the TV transverse abdominals and increase the blood flow to the stabilizing tissues.

Generally, those with back pain should;

  • Avoid high impact activities
  • Refrain from heavy lifting jerking and jarring movements
  • Not perform double leg raises or straight leg setups
  • Refrain from repeated twisting rotating and bending
  • Avoid exercises that load or compress the axial skeleton
  • Avoid sustained or prolonged static postures
  • Rehearse engaging the abdominals regularly
  • Seek opportunities to improve posture

If you wish to find out more please visit our back health page.

Structured exercise should only be performed once the clinician has indicated that it’s safe to do so and the acute phase of physiotherapy is complete. This is normally around 6 weeks post-op.

We may work in conjunction with physiotherapists to develop suitable exercise programs to restore an optimum level of proprioception and joint stability. Once such attributes have been established the strength of the surrounding skeletal muscles and connective tissues will then need to be increased in order to prevent further damage, deterioration and undue stress being placed on the prosthesis and surrounding tissues. Patients should also:

  • Perform limited abduction and deduction movements, particularly with hip replacements
  • Avoid breaststroke when swimming
  • Keep hips above knees when seated
  • Perform lower body flexion patterns to a maximum of 90 degrees

If you would like to find out more about one of our students that experienced a double knee replacement please read our blog on joint replacements  .

The primary treatments for arthritis include joint protection strategies, exercise and education for the self-management of symptoms.

We recommend the following advice for those suffering from Osteoarthritis:

  • Maintain a stable and close to ideal body weight.
  • Remain as active as possible to maintain joint stability and muscle tone.
  • Avoid extreme activity or impact.
  • Avoid deep kneeling or squatting positions that may overstressed joints.
  • Wear suitable footwear shock-absorbing insoles or train has designed for exercise.
  • Have a thorough gait analysis to ensure no additional strain is being placed on the joint.
  • Give due consideration to exercise positions that may aggravate affected joints including kneeling and weight bearing on the wrist. These positions should be subsequently avoided.
  • Warm with gentle stretching and mobility activities are crucial. This should also be performed on days when the patient is experiencing symptoms in the active phase or when the structured exercise is not planned.
  • Excessive stair climbing, contact sports, prolonged single leg activities and fast-paced movement should be avoided especially with patients who have hip and knee symptoms.
  • Muscular conditioning should be a priority, using predominantly compound exercises. The muscles surrounding the affected joints should be targeted.

The primary treatments for arthritis include joint protection strategies, exercise and education for the self-management of symptoms.

We recommend the following advice for those suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis:

  • Maintain a stable and close to ideal body weight.
  • Remain as active as possible to maintain joint stability and muscle tone.
  • Avoid extreme activity or impact.
  • Avoid deep kneeling or squatting positions that may overstressed joints.
  • Wear suitable footwear shock-absorbing insoles or train has designed for exercise.
  • Have a thorough gait analysis to ensure no additional strain is being placed on the joint.
  • Refrain from exercise during active phases. The patient should avoid excessive risk petitions, high impact activities and prolonged exercise from the same position.
  • Give due consideration to exercise positions that may aggravate affected joints including kneeling and weight bearing on the wrist. These positions should be subsequently avoided.
  • Warm with gentle stretching and mobility activities are crucial. This should also be performed on days when the patient is experiencing symptoms in the active phase or when the structured exercise is not planned.
  • Excessive stair climbing, contact sports, prolonged single leg activities and fast-paced movement should be avoided especially with patients who have hip and knee symptoms.
  • Muscular conditioning should be a priority, using predominantly compound exercises. The muscles surrounding the affected joints should be targeted.
  • Exercising later in the day more comfortable to avoid symptoms of morning stiffness.

Exercise is important in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. Regular exercise will help to:

  • Increase muscle strength
  • Improve balance
  • Reduce the risk of falls
  • Minimise bone loss
  • Improve well-being
  • Reduce the risk of other medical conditions

Several factors are believed to accelerate the condition and should be managed, including:

  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • A diet lacking calcium and vitamin D
  • Amenorrhoea
  • Excessive salt consumption
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Long term steroid use/therapy

The general role of exercise as a prescriptive factor for osteoporosis is to prevent further deterioration of the condition and to stabilize if not improve bone mass density.

Exercises requiring axial loading, back squats, spine reflection, crunch or extension should be avoided due to the increased risk of factors. Core stabilizing exercises should be used to help stabilize the spine. Contact sports, high impact, ballistic and fast-paced movement should be avoided.

Osteoporosis in the Hip

One should avoid exercises that may put them at risk of falling.

One would benefit from weight-bearing exercise and exercises that increase strength around the hip:

  • Glute setting
  • Hip abduction and adduction
  • Marching
  • Single and double knee folds
  • The hundred
  • One leg stretch
  • Scissors
  • The roll-up
  • Swimming
  • Hamstring curls
  • Shoulder bridge
  • Glute strengthener with bent knee
  • Side kick and side lying series
  • Supine single leg lower
  • One leg circle

Osteoporosis in the spine

One should avoid lots of flexion and twisting and extreme ranges of flexion and rotation.

Pilates exercises to avoid:

  • Roll down
  • Rolling back and other rolling exercises
  • Spine stretch
  • Curl ups and the curl up element of any exercise
  • The full roll-up and oblique version
  • The oblique twist
  • The saw
  • Roll over
  • Jack knife
  • Corkscrew
  • Shoulder stand position
  • Scissors
  • Bicycle

The following strengthening exercises are particularly good:

  • Swimming
  • Leg pull
  • Press up
  • Swan dive
  • Back extension

We would highly recommend at least one private session for anyone with osteoporosis in the spine.

We can then teach you any alternatives for exercises we may wish to avoid during class and if you wish we can put together a home programme for you to practice at home as well.

The benefit of exercise and physical activity for those with asthma include:

  • Improved strength of the respiratory muscles
  • Improved strength of the accessory respiratory muscles
  • Reduced ‘dead space’ in the lungs
  • Increased lung power
  • Improved cardiovascular function

Please always bring your inhaler to every session.

The aim of exercise prescription for COPD is primarily to improve lung function, exercise tolerance and symptoms of dyspnea (shortness of breath).

Exercise should be engaged for all. The primary benefits of exercise in COPD patients include:

  • Cardiovascular conditioning
  • The reduced ventilatory requirement at a given workload
  • Improved respiratory efficiency
  • Reduced hyperinflation of the lungs
  • Desensitization to dyspnea
  • Increased respiratory muscles strength
  • Improved flexibility and mobility of the thorax/spine

At BeMoore we tailor private sessions to meet your physical, mental, and lifestyle needs.

Becki Moore has extensive experience in supporting  –

  • Hip injuries
  • Hip replacements (pre and post)
  • Knee injuries
  • Knee replacements (pre and post)
  • Back Pain
  • Sciatica
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Disk Herniations
  • Pelvic Girdle Pain
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Rotator Cuff  Conditions
  • Diastasis Recti
  • Amputees
  • Amelia

Find out more about our rehabilitation packages here

At BeMoore Pilates, Yoga & Personal Training we have extensive awareness and knowledge about mental health.

Exercise will release endorphins and is often prescribed by doctors, particularly Yoga and Pilates.

Our private sessions use various therapy, breathwork, and meditation techniques to empower you with tools to use in your daily life to enhance your health.

The causes of primary hypertension are currently not entirely understood, although several factors are believed to accelerate the condition.

These include:

  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Obesity
  • Excessive salt consumption
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Deficiency in vitamin D.

As a general rule, low, moderate intensity exercises that are continuous in nature are superior for hypertensive patients.

Activities that require patients to move repeatedly between seated lying or standing postures should be avoided because of the fluctuations in blood pressure that they elicit.

Physical exercise and lifestyle strategies are recommended for the management and reduction of Hypercholesterolaemia.

We recommend:

  • A high HDL diet
  • A low LDL diet
  • Increase physical activity
  • Stop smoking
  • Reduce alcohol

Exercise has long been considered an important element in diabetes treatment, especially with a type 2 diabetic because of its positive influence on insulin resistance.

Appropriate footwear is important, due to the risk of peripheral neuropathy, and ulcers.

Those who are exercising alone should be aware of the importance of self-examination and advised on how to conduct this by their healthcare or medical professional.

Before exercise participation, blood glucose levels should be measured to determine the stability of blood glucose levels, and their stability suitability to participate.

In cases where hypoglycemia is a risk, 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates should be consumed to help stabilize blood glucose concentrations. It is also extremely important to monitor blood glucose post-exercise because patients are far more likely to experience hypoglycemia during this period, due to the replenishment of muscle glycogen.

A carbohydrate drink or meal within 60 minutes of the exercise session is strongly recommended.

It is also important that one does not exercise too close before bedtime, especially when living alone. If one were to experience post-exercise hypoglycemia while sleeping, the likelihood of detection, unless somebody tried to wake them would be slim. In these circumstances, the patient could slip into a diabetic coma.

There are many psychological benefits associated with regular participation in exercise.

The frequency, intensity, and mode of exercise appropriate to the patient will largely depend on individual capabilities and requirements.

Patients with type 2 diabetes should seek exercise every second or third day to maintain improvements in glycemic control.

Type 1 diabetics are likely to need to adjust their insulin usage around exercise and physical activity. It may be more appropriate to exercise daily and maintain a structured routine whereby insulin is taken at the same time each day. This will help to improve the management of the condition.

To avoid hypoglycemia one should inject insulin in the sites, away from the muscles, they will be using most during exercise. Additionally, insulin injection sites should be rotated regularly, whether exercising or not.

Diabetics that significantly increase their level of lean mass are unlikely to observe a reduction in their exogenous insulin requirements. Because muscle tissue is insulin dependent such patients will require more insulin to supply the new tissues with glucose.

A patient should not exercise if:

  • If they have an active retinal hemorrhage
  • Illness or infection is present
  • Blood glucose levels exceeding 13.8 with unary ketones
  • Blood glucose levels are lower than 4.4. due to the risk of hypoglycemia

The following caution should be taken:

  • Have a source of carbohydrates available during the exercise session that does not contain fat.
  • Consume fluids before during and after exercise.
  • Practice good foot care by wearing proper training shoes and cotton socks (a thorough examination should also be conducted).
  • Ensure medical identification with details of the condition is carried out.
  • Ensure any other medications being prescribed are at hand.
  • Ensure all medications have been taken as part of the management or treatment plan for the day.

Weight-bearing exercises or those environments involving high impact are likely to add considerable strain to both the skeleton and increase the risk of osteoarthritis and back pain.

Low-impact and non-weight-bearing exercises might be more suitable in the early stages of exercise programming.

Once a base level of strength has been established and when body weight reduces, high-impact activities can then be incorporated.

Emphasis on fat burning during exercise is not as important as total energy expenditure. Often, too much emphasis is placed on keeping in the fat-burning zone. The ACSM recommends between 1250 to 2000 calories per week or 200 to 300 minutes per week of physical exercise.

Exercises in a prone or supine position should be avoided due to the adverse effects on blood pressure and should be performed in a seated or standing position instead.

As nutrition advisors, we may also monitor nutritional intake.