Exercise
In addition to being essential to general health and well-being, exercise is helpful in managing many MS symptoms. A study published by researchers at the University of Utah in 1996 clearly demonstrated the benefits of exercise for people with MS.
Those patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program had better cardiovascular fitness, improved strength, better bladder and bowel function, less fatigue and depression, a more positive attitude and increased their participation in social activities.
Inactivity in people with or without MS can result in numerous risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. In addition, it can lead to weakness of muscles, decreased bone density with an increased risk of fracture and shallow, inefficient breathing. An exercise program needs to be appropriate to the capabilities and limitations of the individual and may need to be adjusted as changes occur in MS symptoms.
A physical therapist experienced with the unique and varied symptoms of MS can be helpful in designing, supervising and revising a well-balanced exercise program. Any person with MS who is initiating a new exercise program should also consult with his or her physician before starting.
Periods of exercise should be carefully timed to avoid the hotter times of the day and prevent excessive fatigue. With some guidelines, a good exercise program can help to develop the maximum potential of muscle, bone and respiration, thereby avoiding secondary complications and gaining the benefits of good health and well-being.
Source - NMSS Information Resource Center and Library. Compendium of Multiple Sclerosis Information (CMSI). © 2003, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Reproduced with permission.
Hydrotherapy (Aquatic Exercise)
Aquatics - exercise in water - is often recommended because it provides optimal exercise conditions for the person with MS. Water reduces the effects of gravity and the buoyancy or weightlessness that occurs in water helps a person with weakened limbs attain a greater range of motion. In addition, chest-high water can provide support, enabling many persons with MS to stand and maintain balance for exercises with less effort than on land.
The resistance that water provides can also be utilised for purposes of muscle strengthening. There are also many types of commercially-available devices that can increase the water resistance and provide an excellent method of strengthening. Hydrotherapy incorporates specific techniques, performed in water, which can be utilised to decrease symptoms and address functional mobility deficits.
Water also helps reduce body heat that can be generated by exercise. Because the core temperature of the body remains lower, there is less overheating, which is often a cause of temporary worsening of MS symptoms. Water temperatures of 28-31°C are usually recommended, but this can vary from person to person.
Multiple Sclerosis Society may know of local programs appropriate for people with MS. Other forms of exercise and physical therapy can also be adapted to the needs and abilities of individuals with MS.
Source - NMSS Information Resource Center and Library. Compendium of Multiple Sclerosis Information (CMSI). © 2003, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Reproduced with permission.
