EXERCISE THERAPY IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING TREATMENT STRATEGIES IN MS REHAB.

A lot of the press study touts “Exercise therapy is one of the most promising treatment strategies in MS rehabilitation.” Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, it is good to see this turn-around on the topic of exercise and MS. We have come a long way from being told by neurologists to take it easy…as not to aggravate the condition.

Not that we really need a study to get this, but this shows that exercise in MS is both NEUROPROTECTIVE and has DISEASE-MODIFYING EFFECTS. The researchers here talk about an early-stage “window of opportunity,” as well rehabilitation interventions that are initiated at a later disease stage – the former being the best. HOWEVER, while participating in the Advanced MS study at the Tactile Communications and Neurorehabilitation Lab at the University of Wisconsin, I learned from the brain experts there that it doesn’t matter how old you are, how advanced the condition or how long you have had MS, exercise is a powerful tool to maintaining and restoring brain/body function.

In the kind and gentle words of my neurophysio there…a regular exercise routine is essential, whether you want to or not. So now, even when exercise is the last thing I want to do, I think of those words and do my exercise…whether I want to or not.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: CREATE A REGULAR EXERCISE THERAPY PROGRAM STARTING TODAY.

My own routine includes exercises in the pool/swimming 2x per week and a strength/balance workout 2-3x per week – and I’m working on it all the time!

Be safe and get some help with your workout. Find a workout buddy and motivate each other. It is about slow steady improvement.

Do you have an exercise routine, if so, share it in the comments?

Copy this URL to see the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29889008/