Staying Active - What Is Appropriate Exercise For People With MS?

By Lori Kostich MS, CCC-SLP
Mandell Center

I am not a Physical Therapist. I am not a Fitness Trainer.  I do, however, spend a great deal of time working with my patients on reasoning out solutions to problems.  The issue of “exercise” comes up. When to exercise, how much to exercise, what is appropriate exercise and if you can’t exercise the way you used to does that mean you will never exercise again?

So what is exercise to you? Are you someone who likes to go to the gym? Are you someone who would rather be outside? Stop, think this through.  Can you still do that? Great.  Do you need to scale down the intensity of the workout so fatigue doesn’t become unmanageable? That’s great, it’s different- but not worse- and you are staying active.

What if going to the gym is no longer manageable? What kind of exercise can you do around the house? I am not at your house- so you need to think.

Here are some things my patients do.

1. When you go get the mail, walk a few laps around the driveway. Remember to take your cane or walker if you need it.  You will be able to walk a little further and easier with the device than without it.
2. When you stand up or sit down, do it without pushing off with your hands
3. Consider, when you wash floors, or clean the tub, if the kneeling to standing makes you out of breath, that is a little bit of exercise.
4. Lifting laundry and carrying it around is exercise
5. Stretching exercises
6. Breathing exercises

People think that because they are not doing those exercise programs on TV, going to the gym or swimming laps that they are not exercising.  But stop, think. Exercise can be anything.  What is realistic exercise for you?