Myths about MS and Exercise
The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are unpredictable and their severity varies from one person to the next. These symptoms may include fatigue, tremors, loss of balance, and sometimes even paralysis. Most people with MS, however, still continue to lead a relatively normal and active life many years after their diagnosis.
As time passes, many people with MS experience decreased motor skills, muscle strength and endurance. Unfortunately this may lead people to believe that physical activity is inappropriate, or even prohibited, for them. Admittedly until recently, people with MS were advised against participating in any activities that were deemed to be physically tiring. Up until recently, exercise as a therapy has been under-utilized in the MS population. This may have been due to neurological functions such as vision, motor function, and ambulation often becoming worse with exercise and therefore exercise was thought to be contributing to the disease process. It was also thought that participating in exercise would cause excessive fatigue preventing the individual from completing basic daily activities. Individuals were therefore often advised by health care professionals to refrain from participating in exercise. However, the worsening of symptoms that occurs with exercise does not cause any further damage to the myelin sheath and the symptoms individuals will experience will dissipate upon recovery from exercise.
This is not the case nowadays. The most recent thinking indicates that it is safe and beneficial for individuals with MS to participate in moderate exercise and it is now recognized as an important part of the overall care plan. Better understandings of MS and of the related therapeutic process prove inactivity must be rejected. Physiotherapy, kinesiology and occupational therapy have and continue to play an important role in activity promotion. But more and more the range of available exercise and activity opportunities is increasing for people with MS who want to keep active and fit: walking, weight training, swimming, yoga, and Tai Chi, to name a few.
The goals of exercise for persons with MS are to improve aerobic endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, mobility, and to prevent secondary diseases such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Evidence also exists that exercise will assist in maintaining individual independence and improve overall quality of life within persons with MS (check out MS ActiveNOW page containing recent books and articles on the topics of exercise and MS).
Exercising and being active provides an opportunity for individuals with MS to take charge of their life and learn to make the most of what they have. So, get active NOW!
For further information please email: active@mssociety.ca
