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Secondary Progressive MS & Exercise

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease which adversely affects the central nervous system of the body, according to the medical website Medline Plus. Individuals with MS exhibit symptoms such as muscle spasms, numbness, weakness in the extremities, difficulty walking and loss of fine motor control. Secondary progressive MS is a stage of the disease where symptoms become nearly constant, with only minor lapses in severity. Regardless of the disease's stage, exercise within the patient's capacity can help to improve her overall condition.

  1. MS and Exercise

    • Understand that someone with secondary progressive MS will exhibit symptoms nearly constantly, so you should tailor exercise programs to the items which she can still accomplish with relative safety. These activities might include walking, cycling, yoga, Pilates and other low-impact forms of exercise that do not pose a substantial threat to the patient's health if she experiences an increase in symptoms. Avoid potentially dangerous activities like swimming, resistance training, running and the like, as an unexpected loss of motor control during these activities could result in substantial injury. Work within the patient's limits to develop an exercise schedule, planning activities for days during which she is feeling well and avoiding training on days where symptoms are usually bad. Aim for around 30 minutes per day of training, but do not be surprised if circumstances make that number impossible to reach on a consistent basis. Always have a partner on hand during training sessions to provide a "safety net" in case symptoms escalate to the point where finishing the exercise session becomes difficult.

    Exercise Alternatives

    • Consider electronic muscle stimulation as an alternative to exercise for days when symptoms are too severe to consider conventional training. According to Dr. Terry Wahls, a physician who suffers from MS, electronic therapy can help patients find ways to condition their muscles even while experiencing more pronounced symptoms. Purchase an FDA-approved electronic muscle stimulator online, and attaching it to all of the major muscle groups in turn--chest, back, abs, arms and legs. Use a light setting until the patient is accustomed to the "training," and aim for sessions of short duration--10 to 20 minutes at most.

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