MOVE - The Sports & Exercise Medicine Centre

27/05/2026

We are so pleased to announce that our MOVErs Prof Nigel Camilleri, Arianne Bonello and Jasmine Borg, together with their colleague Daniel Vella Fondacaro, have just published a case study paper exploring the barriers individuals with ADHD may face in accessing physical activity 👏

Their work highlights how even short bouts of exercise can positively impact ADHD symptoms and overall wellbeing and integrating structured sport and physical activity as an adjunct intervention within therapeutic frameworks for ADHD can significantly enhance quality of life and daily functioning. Importantly, the study reinforces how sport can act as a powerful protective factor in helping neurodivergent individuals navigate challenges and build resilience.

At MOVE - The Sports & Exercise Medicine Centre we are committed to continuous education and research to ensure our practice remains evidence-based and up to date to ultimately deliver the highest standards. A huge well done to the team! 👏

Do keep an eye out for more research coming soon! 🤓

27/05/2026

Physician wellbeing is closely linked to patient care and outcomes. 🛡️

A growing body of evidence in lifestyle medicine and lifestyle psychiatry shows that when doctors prioritise healthy habits themselves, patients are more likely to engage in exercise , preventive care, nutrition changes, and healthier lifestyles overall🌿.

In this article, Dr Andrea Saliba explores:
• How physician self-care influences patient trust and behaviour
• The relationship between burnout and quality of care
• The importance of moral resilience in healthcare
• Why role modelling during medical training matters
• The need for healthcare systems that support clinician wellbeing

For psychiatrists and healthcare professionals, self-care is not a luxury. It is an important part of clinical excellence, credibility, and therapeutic authenticity. 🤝

Read the full article here: https://www.movesemc.com.mt/blog/lifestylemedicine

Physicians’ health habits are not entirely separate from patient care, as they can influence the care patients receive. A growing body of research suggests an important link: when doctors model healthy behaviours themselves, patients may be more likely to achieve better health outcomes.

20/05/2026

Nutrition and mental health are more connected than we often think. 🧠

From the gut-brain axis to the impact of dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet, research is increasingly showing how what we eat may influence mood, stress, and long-term mental wellbeing.

📖 Read the full article by our nutritionist Diana Azzopardi to explore the science behind these links and what it could mean for your everyday choices.

👉 Full read here: www.movesemc.com.mt/blog/nutritionandmentalhealth

18/05/2026

Amazing Zach! So happy to have been part of this journey with you.

Ultra-endurance runner Zach Vella arrived home in Malta on Monday after completing a gruelling 2,755km run from London, raising more than €145,000 for YMCA Malta.

14/05/2026

Really honoured to have presented at the 4th International Conference on Sports Psychiatry in Bern, Switzerland 🇨🇭

It was a very special moment to share our work on behalf of MOVE – The Sports & Exercise Medicine Centre, especially in a setting bringing together leading experts in sports psychiatry from across Europe.

A huge thank you to Neil Agius for collaborating with MOVE on the Gozo 7 day Challenge, completing 7 laps around Gozo, each equivalent to a marathon distance swim, pushing the limits of endurance and resilience in open water.

Our research focused on looking at ADHD through a different lens, also as a potential strength when appropriately channelled. In this context, we explored how neurodiversity can be harnessed to support performance, meaning, and psychological resilience in extreme endurance sport.

We worked alongside Neil during this journey, reframing ADHD traits in a way that supported focus, drive, and persistence throughout the challenge.

A big thank you to the MOVE team for the collaboration and support throughout this project.

Really proud to be part of this growing conversation around mental health, neurodiversity, and performance in elite sport, and to contribute to research that looks beyond limitations and towards strengths, meaning, and human potential.

13/05/2026

Can climbing help mental health? 🧗

Research presented at the 4th International Conference on Sports Psychiatry suggests that therapeutic climbing and bouldering may offer important psychological benefits for people experiencing depression and psychological distress.

Katharina Luttenberger (Krems, Austria) presented findings from randomised controlled trials exploring indoor climbing and bouldering psychotherapy in depression treatment.

Participants reported:
• Improved mood and wellbeing
• Increased calmness and energy
• Greater confidence and physical empowerment
• Re-engagement with physical activity
• Social connection through guided group participation
• Reduced rumination through sustained focus

One of the most interesting findings involved mindfulness and attentional focus.

Bouldering requires continuous concentration on movement, balance, grip, and problem-solving. Researchers suggested this present-moment focus may help interrupt rumination patterns linked to depression and anxiety. Many participants described climbing as one of the few activities where they could temporarily “switch off” intrusive thoughts.

Speakers also discussed how mountain sports may produce short-term improvements in mood, activation, wellbeing, and social connectedness. Positive emotional experiences during exercise may also encourage long-term participation in physical activity.

A study involving 49 patients with depressive disorders found mountain sports were associated with improvements in mood, calmness, energy, and connection with others.

Another programme, “You CLIMB” in Lebanon with ClimbAID, involved 233 adolescents attending 8 weeks of climbing sessions. The intervention group demonstrated psychological benefits compared with a waitlist control group.

The evidence is still emerging, and climbing is not a replacement for psychiatric or psychological treatment. However, current findings suggest therapeutic climbing and mountain sports may become valuable complementary interventions for mood, behavioural activation, social engagement, and mindfulness.

28/04/2026

Sicily, sunshine and the MOVE team 🌿☀️

A day away from the office but close to what matters most, connection, collaboration and shared growth.

Every photo captures real moments of teamwork, energy and genuine connection.

We are grateful for the people behind MOVE who make experiences like this meaningful, not only in how we work but in how we support each other 💙

Looking forward to many more moments that bring us together in and out of the workplace.

22/04/2026

🌊 Rowing the Atlantic Alone: What 54 Days at Sea Teach Us About the Mind 🌊

What does it really take to spend 54 days alone in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

Maltese athlete Steve Chetcuti made history as the first Maltese person to row solo across the Atlantic, and his journey tested not just his body but his mind.

From endless boredom and isolation to breaking the challenge into small milestones like Christmas, New Year, and his daughters’ birthdays, Steve showed that resilience is about continuing even when it gets hard.

At his lowest moments, he allowed himself to pause, feel it, even cry if needed, and then carry on.

His story is also a reminder that loneliness is more common than we think, and something we should talk about more openly.

📣 This blog is part of the MOVE Sport Psychology Series and was written by Jasmine Borg, Health Psychologist and Sport Psychology Practitioner, following an interview with Steve Chetcuti for MOVE.

Read the full article here: https://www.movesemc.com.mt/blog/building-strong-nutrition-foundations-8xwhy

Interview conducted and blog written by Jasmine Borg,  Health Psychologist & Sport Psychology Practitioner MOVE, The Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre, March 2026. Steve Chetcuti became the first Maltese person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. This is what he le

18/04/2026

A big well done to Luxol Sports Club for their fantastic win today that put them in the lead 👏 Yesterday Jasmine (health psychologist & sport psychology practitioner) delivered a prep talk and discussion with the team focusing on the purpose of teamwork and how, if prepared well, can build that extra grit! It’s great to see the values discussed in yesterday's discussion translated so clearly onto the pitch today. Keep it going 💪