Body Maintenance has achieved an excellent reputation as a provider of quality exercise prescription for treatment with people with chronic disease. In many cases we cannot cure a disease however we can help prevent secondary diseases. When a client is faced with an incurable but not fatal disease Body Maintenance designs and implements an exercise treatment plan, which can enable them to achieve a quality of functional life.

AGE DEGENERATION

One of our 80-year-old ladies came for her first fitness assessment and questioned, “Am too old to start learning how to exercise?” Six months later she said, “I have never felt so fit, I feel strong and have so much energy!”

Physical activity is of critical importance for delaying the metabolic disorders associated with aging. In older populations, physical activity can produce increased muscle strength, muscular endurance, and maximal aerobic fitness. Flexibility, coordination and balance are also improved, resulting in a decreased risk for falling while enhancing modality. Also, exercise has been shown to increase socialisation and self-esteem.  These benefits have important implication for the frail elderly in maintaining or promoting independence in daily living activities.

ARTHRITIS

“I thought if I exercised I would wear out my already deteriorating joints but I have now reduced my daily pain and can do more things around the house”

If your joints hurt, you may not feel like exercising however our clients have found with our regular exercise their joints have become less stiff and painful.  Exercise will help to keep your joints moving, and most importantly make the muscles around the joints strong.  If a joint does not move the cartilage tissue will degenerate. 

At Body Maintenance we cannot prevent the lumps but we can help you with the correct type of exercise that is required to manage the pain and loss of function that people with arthritis endure.

DIABETES 

“I did not take my doctor seriously at first then I researched what could happen to me if I did not change my diet and implement a regular exercise plan.  Body Maintenance makes me stop work for one hour 3 times a week and exercise, I thank them for helping me manage my condition”

Diagnosis of Type II diabetes is quite serious when one considers the health problems it can lead to:

• 25 times more susceptible to blindness (retinopathy)
• 17 times more likely to develop kidney disease (nephropathy)
• 5 times more susceptible to gangrene and amputation in the extremities
• 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease (coronary heart disease)

Diet and exercise are generally considered now to be the first line of therapy, but pharmaceuticals are still recognised as the main line because they have the greatest immediate effect.  Exercise is known to lower liver glucose production, increase insulin sensitivity and boost pancreatic insulin secretions. 

At Body Maintenance our clients range between no-medication to type I diabetes.  All have their own personal program to help them achieve their individual goals however they all have one thing in common they are taking control of their diabetes.

HYPERTENSION 

“My doctor said I will have to take blood pressure medication for the rest of my life if I did not exercise regularly, I am now medication free”

Longitudinal studies show that endurance training may elicit an average reduction of about 10 mmHg in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. 

 OBESITY 

“I have tried every diet plan and then I joined Body Maintenance.  I have learnt that it is about small, slow lifestyle changes psychologically and physically.  Each week we work on achieving small goals that are working towards the large goal – weight loss for health”

Physical activity affects body fat distribution by promoting regional fat loss in the abdominal sites.  The resultant reduction of regional fat in the abdominal sites significantly decreases the risk of secondary diseases.  Physical activity is one of the most important factors in the maintenance of weight loss. 

OSTEOPOROSIS

“When I started with Body Maintenance I could not poor a cup of tea, now I can lift my grandchild above my head”

There are three distinctive areas of research that we follow closely when advising people what to do when they are diagnosed with Osteoporosis.  The first choice you have is to take medications like Fossamax that slow down the bone cell removal.  The second option is exercise and medication and the third choice is exercise and no medication.  Latest research suggests that the combination of medication and regular exercise does produce the best bone density results over a two-year period. 

At Body Maintenance we have a number of clients that have osteoporosis and they have all chosen to treat their condition individually.  Some believe in medication and others do not want to take any medication however they have all recognised the importance of exercise.  There are many types of exercise to help manage and slow down the bone deterioration and that is what we can help you with.  Each program is individually designed to help you achieve your best results.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE 

“When I walk I do not use my left arm and my leg tends to drag.”  Eight months later this client’s doctor said, “I have seen a measurable change in gait pattern, self-esteem, depression and general physical awareness.”