healthWhat are some exercise ideas for person with MS?
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A mother of my friend was diagnosed with MS this time last year. S he has asked me what exercises would be good for her to improve general health and her condition. The condition isn't affecting her at the moment but she has retired (mid 40s) and wants to include more exercise into her routine. I suggested swimming, walking, balance work and light body weight exercises of the top of my head and said id research it for her. Any help, ideas or knowledge would be great!
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By Jack – about 1 year ago
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That's so great that your friend's mother wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle! Multiple Sclerosis is caused with the mylein, the outer fatty sheath covering and protecting our nerves becomes damaged. Mylein's job is to ensure that nerve impulses move from one nerve to the next, just like an electrical current. When the mylein is damaged, it's just like creating a short circuit in an electric current; the electrical signals don't travel through the current like they're supposed to. It's this "short circuiting" that causes the symptoms of MS that include fatigue, vision changes, walking, balance, and coordination problems, dizziness and vertigo, and muscle spasticity.
The thing to keep in mind whenever someone is working with an individual with any kind of chronic medical condition to take the slow and steady approach to recommending exercise. Individuals with MS tend to be very deconditioned and so the first goal is to get them up and moving regularly, even if it's just for multiple 5 min. walking bouts with rest breaks in between. They should exercise as tolerated and progress very gradually.
MS tends to cause people to become heat intolerant and the individuals I've worked with who have MS would use cooling vests when exercising outside or find indoor options where the temperature is cooler.
My suggestion is to ask your friend's mom what I ask my patients, "What do you think you can do?" I wouldn't say that any activity is contraindicated unless it is personally limiting to her based on her symptoms; all of the exercises you suggested would be fine if she is interested in participating in them. I worked with women with MS who rode horses at a therapeutic riding program! It really comes down to finding something active that someone enjoys doing, taking a real conservative slow approach to progression, and engaging in it regularly.
I hope this helped to answer your question! Please let me know how else I can help.
Clinical Exercise Physiologist
My Fiancée was diagnosed with MS a few years ago and exercise soon gets forgotten about. I tried to take her out jogging but found that she developed tingling and numbness symptoms through the raise in temperature. I have been recommended swimming by many people. I was going to ask is there any multivitamins you would recommend that won't flare up any symptoms?