Neuro-Fit with Craig Marks,
Exposing the myths about MS and exercise
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms in most people are unpredictable and often change from day to day. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person, from minor to severe symptoms. Some of the symptoms include: tremors, poor balance, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling, headaches, blurred vision and in extreme cases, paralysis.
However, if a person with MS remains proactive from the time of the initial diagnosis through the course and management of the disease, most people living with MS can continue to lead relatively normal and active lives; and can enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
For several years, many people diagnosed with MS, and their physicians, believed that limited physical activity and medication management was the key to dealing with their illness and keeping their symptoms at bay. However, this had an opposite effect. Inactivity caused people with MS to experience muscle weakness and atrophy, decreased cardiovascular strength, decreased functional endurance, decreased fine motor skills and in extreme cases, paralysis.
Historically, people diagnosed with MS were told by their physicians not to participate in any strenuous activities. It was believed that exercise would exacerbate one’s symptoms and cause further damage to the myelin sheath covering the nerves. However, new studies have shown that exercise plays a key role in helping to keep many symptoms of MS at a minimum and does not cause further damage.
Since 1994, I’ve been continually stressing to clients that exercise is extremely important and beneficial to people diagnosed with MS. New studies have shown that people with MS who exercise on a daily basis do not suffer a decline in their physical wellness. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. At my studio, I treat all clients with MS similarly to my clients who don’t have MS. I don’t discriminate. I’m happy to report that all of my MS clients do extremely well. During training when I’m working with a client who has MS, other clients in the room usually have no idea that the person they are sharing studio time with even has MS. In fact, many of my MS clients are stronger, more agile, more flexible and more physically fit than some of my “healthy” clients.
There is, however, an important difference in the way I train someone with MS than someone who does not have MS. When training a client who has MS, I’m very careful not to let them exercise to the point of exhaustion. Pushing them too hard can cause what is known as MS-specific fatigue. Those of you who have MS understand that type of fatigue. Some of my clients have described it as feeling as though their whole body is made out of cement and they need to use all of their physical energy just to stand up. Having many years’ experience working with people who have MS, I’ve developed a 6th sense and can generally read a client’s body language, even from a distance. I know what signs and symptoms to look for so we avoid that exhaustion stage. Additionally, I am in continual contact with the client’s physician or physician’s office; constantly monitoring their nutrition, medication management and documenting any symptomatic changes they may experience. My exercise program at times may be very traditional but in most cases, is very non-conventional with exercises performed at a moderate to moderately high level of intensity. Over the past 17 years, I’ve found this to be very effective.
The physical goals for my clients who have MS are exactly the same as those for all my other clients: improving aerobic endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, mobility, balance and preventing diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
For people living with MS who don’t exercise, they are at risk for very damaging physical effects. Inactivity can decrease a person with MS’ ability to physically function well and enjoy a healthier quality of life.
Several medical issues that can result from prolonged inactivity are:
- Muscle weakness and atrophy
- Decreased balance
- Paralysis (in extreme cases)
- Chronic upper respiratory tract infections
- Joint contractures
- Bowel / bladder problems
- Osteoporosis
- Hypertension
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
As a personal trainer and physical therapist for over 20 years, and MS and Parkinson’s specialist since 1995, I’ve worked with countless numbers of people living with MS. I’m fortunate to have the Cleveland Clinic of Weston and several local and national neurologists take an interest in my Kinesio-Arts Program. The number one goal for all of my MS clients is to help them improve their physical wellness by guiding, educating and coaching them through proper exercise and nutrition. My other goal is to help them overcome their fear of exercising. I want them to understand how important exercise is while also balancing that with proper medication, in order to help keep their MS symptoms at a minimum.
Craig Marks is the developer of the nationally recognized Kinesio-Arts Training Program for persons living with MS and Parkinson’s Disease and is the owner/founder and lead trainer at T3 Health and Fitness in Cooper City, FL. Craig Marks, CPT/ATC/PT, can be reached at 954-707-9175 or via email at [email protected].
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Disclaimer: ‘MS Views and News’ (MSVN), does not endorse any products or services found on this blog. It is up to you to seek advice from your healthcare provider. The intent of this blog is to provide information on various medical conditions, medications, treatments, and procedures for your personal knowledge and to keep you informed of current health-related issues. It is not intended to be complete or exhaustive, nor is it a substitute for the advice of your physician. Should you or your family members have any specific medical problem, seek medical care promptly.
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