Sally Freeman, British Dietetic Dietitian
With over 20 years of experience working with 2,000+ artists and DJs, Sally J Freeman brings knowledge and experience of the music industry and expertise as a registered dietitian and mental health advocate to this new initiative.
Sally is a British Dietetic Dietitian specialising in mental health, disability, neurodiversity, women’s health, and the gut biome.
She is now combining this knowledge with a love for the music industry to help Artists achieve their health and well-being goals, become more resilient and prevent burnout.
Founder of @eatsleepraverelax, they provide personalised nutrition and evidence based strategies for Artists, focused on preventing burnout, building resilience, and supporting holistic living.
They have a team of healthcare professionals with HCPC registration to offer evidence-based clinical advice.
Load Management and Recovery Strategies for Circus Artists
Circus artists engage in high-impact, extreme flexibility, and powerful movements in their training and performance. There is a growing number of performers adding acrobatic lifts and skills to their performance; there is a need to understand their physical demands and recovery strategies to prevent overuse injuries.
Physical Demands of Circus Performance – Understanding the unique physical challenges faced by circus artists
Load Management & Exercise Planning – How to balance training intensity, volume, and recovery to avoid burnout and maximize performance.
Recovery Strategies & Injury Prevention – Active recovery techniques, and myofascial release for acrobats/aerialists/performers!
Bethany Shum
Beth Shum is a Chartered Physiotherapist (HCPC, MCSP) based in the UK with a Master’s in Performing Arts Medicine from UCL (2022). She is the founder of Flexibility Matters Physiotherapy, a physical health care service dedicated to pre- and professional performing artists in central London. She is also an award-winning entrepreneur (UCL Hatchery Newbie Award & Ciac Golden Heart Covid-19 Award).
Her career began in the NHS, progressing to the role of Specialist Pain Physiotherapist before shifting her focus to performance medicine. Being an active Gymnast and Cheerleader from a young age, Beth is passionate about performers’ Health and longevity. This inspired her founding Flexibility Matters Physio and partnering with the National School of Circus Arts, where she delivers lectures on circus medicine, supports circus health research, and provides specialized health provisions for students.
Beyond this, she has gained extensive experience in the performance world, including working with Team England ParaCheer, the Gymnastics Commonwealth Games, and the British Cheerleading Association (BCA) Cheer & Dance. Her research on “Pain in acrobatic performers and athletes” has won the Mike Shipley Research Award, and she has shared her expertise at international conferences, including the PAMA Symposium, IAMDS Annual Conference, and the BCA British Coaches Conference.
Beth is actively involved in consultancy work, being on Sport Cheer England’s Medical Committee. She is driven to help performers and artistic athletes overcome injuries and physical challenges through workshops, courses, and one-on-one physiotherapy sessions.
You can contact her here:
Website: https://www.fmphysio.com/Instagram: @flexibility_matters
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BAPAM training events are ideal for healthcare and education practitioners working in the performing arts who wish to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills. Expert led sessions explore research, evidence and practice to treat and prevent common and complex health problems specific to artists, creators and performance professionals. We share knowledge and invite discussion on key topics in current performing arts medicine practice. Our approach is multidisciplinary: physiological and psychological care for healthy and sustainable creative practice.
Online sessions are held on the last Wednesday of the month from 7pm BST. Most sessions are recorded for ticket holders who cannot attend on the day (please check the event description).