Be Fit

Fantastic experience: Great, first time experience and I left ready for the great north run yes it’s great value got money very experienced and I’m feeling 100% much appreciated

Fantastic experience: BEFIT: PERSONAL TRAINING FOR HEALTH My personal trainer/physical therapist at befit is Richard Manuel and this review focuses primarily on him. This is one of two linked google reviews I have submitted together: 1. This review 2. befit: personal training/physical therapy for rehabilitation I have been visiting Richard since 2019. His professional quality should immediately be clear when I tell you that I was introduced to him by my wife who was trained by him when she was competing nationally in women’s power lifting in the 2000s. Her recommendation for me to see him was spot on. Unlike my wife who bristles with “fast twitch” muscles that make you fast and strong (and sometimes a bit scary), I had no excess of any sort of muscles, having historically focused on eating nice food and sitting at a computer all day. I was therefore worried that I may not really be the sort of material that Richard would like to work with. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Richard really understands the structure and function of the muscular system, and the elements that link to it. From a single assessment Richard is very good at identifying your specific physical training needs – both in terms of things that are wrong and need correcting and things that are fine but could be worked on and strengthened. In my case my greatest weakness (as had been predicted by my wife) was a serious lack of core strength. This made it difficult for me to stand up from low seats, and made me unbalanced with a tendency to fall over more often than most 60 year olds. I improved substantially in these regards while being trained by Richard and by the end I was much fitter: for example walking 5km most days and being able to stand up in a less embarrassing way!! Unfortunately, that period of training with Richard was brought to an abrupt end by the covid pandemic otherwise I am sure I would, by now, be a professional sportsman.

Fantastic experience: BEFIT: PERSONAL TRAINING/PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR REHABILITATION My personal trainer/physical therapist at befit is Richard Manuel and this review focuses primarily on him. This is one of two linked google reviews I have submitted together: 1. befit: personal training for health 2. This review In July 2022, I developed acute myeloid leukaemia. This was diagnosed and treated at the first-rate Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) over a 12-month period; 10 months as an in-patient. I received a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant in November 2022. I then developed one of the most serious transplant complications: a bad chest infection. In mid-December I moved to ITU (intensive care). The next thing I remember is waking up in late March 2023. I thought it was still 2022 and could hardly move my arms and legs. Fortunately, I could talk, and learnt I had had a fungal pneumonia caused by pneumocystis jirovicii which has a high fatality. I’d spent 5 weeks in a coma and had become affectionately known as the “patient with 9 lives”. After 3 months of ward-based rehabilitation by first-rate physios in Freeman I could get out of bed – assisted by a powered standing aid – and transfer to a wheel-chair. At this point I was referred to Newcastle’s world-class rehabilitation hospital in Walkergate Park. There I received intensive therapy, particularly physio, for 3.5 months – think boot camp! The staff were wonderful and on discharge in October 2023, I could walk myself – using two sticks or a rollator - and could climb up and down a few stairs holding two bannisters. But how was I to manage my rehabilitation at home? I could practice my walking and stair climbing myself but couldn’t do much else. The NHS is wonderful but doesn’t have resources to actively manage community rehabilitation for everyone who needs it. I was seen by an excellent community physiotherapist, but in January 2024 when I was able to walk 1km (slowly) without support, and to reliably walk up and down a flight of stairs (still holding to at least one bannister), I was discharged from community physio. This is when I returned to Richard and befit (see linked review 1). As before this was a great decision. Anybody requiring ongoing rehabilitation after hospitalisation should seriously consider taking it. First, Richard undertook a detailed assessment of my musculoskeletal system. In fact, he found the main problem was not so much muscle weakness (though I was globally weak) but rather splinting of my limbs and neck because of fixed muscular adhesions and contractions from when I was immobile on ITU. This splinting inhibited my capacity to work muscles freely to build up strength and flexibility. So, Richard has been working on my arm, leg and neck muscles for one hour twice a week since January. This involves a combination of active and passive muscle stretching, so it also increases muscle power. As Richard says in his dry but humorous manner when I emerge exhausted from an hour of stretching “aye you’d think you’d been through a full workout”. Fortunately, the great befit receptionists (Isabel most days, or Jackie on Thursdays) are on hand to provide hydrating drinks. The physical therapy also involves “cupping” (local tissue suction) to free up tendons and ligaments from overlying tissue (fascia), and a “therapy gun”. The gun looks like a hair dryer and acts like a (soft) pneumatic hammer but is soothing for the recipient and really frees up muscles. This regime is working well. I can walk 4km (pleasing our dog) and am nearly able to walk up and down stairs without using the bannisters. But, rule 1 of active rehabilitation is “don’t get injured” and ensure a capability reserve before doing anything new. By tailoring his therapy to my evolving needs, Richard constantly tops up my reserve capacity. I am lucky I can afford a personal trainer and this cannot solve everybody's rehab needs after hospital. But, for me, the benefits have vastly exceeded the money I pay for my sessions.

Fantastic experience: Been having a pain in my elbow for sometime. Booked in physio which I got the next day, Isabel was very helpful and friendly. Saw Richard and he new what the issue was straight away and got it sorted. Elbow already feels better. My partner goes there for PT sessions which she says is very good, providing good guidance and techniques on training.

Fantastic experience: You are treated very much as an individual, and given appropriate exercises and treatment. Attending sessions which focused on my painful back, stretched have helped me greatly. I am very grateful and will continue to make appointments once the covid virus allows

Fantastic experience: Very helpful friendly staff help you recover from injuries I totally recommend people try Be fit.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic. Love the people and the place. Antonia is superb