Exercising in the Summer and MS

Here is My Question:
Heat and MS , particularly, on the water in the summer!! I am a 68 year old man with secondary progressive MS. I have been rowing with a cooling vest for 4 years, but, am curious if there are others with MS rowing in the heat. Is there any source for folks with MS exercising hard in the summer?

Answer:
That is fantastic. Keep it up and send us pictures. I met an MS patient who surfs and just falls in the water to get cool. However, rowing is a whole different story and depending on where you are rowing getting in the water might be dangerous (dirty water or currents) and difficult to get in and out of the boat safely.

We don't know of any source for people exercising hard in the summer, but here is a blog by written by someone with MS who is focusing on exercise http://www.activemsers.org/gear.html 

You might also want to try contacting Spaulding Rehab that has an adaptive rowing program and they might have some helpful tips http://spauldingrehab.org/about/events/adaptive_rowing_harry_parker

One of our bloggers, Liz, also has secondary progressive MS and is an adaptive rowing program so you might want to contact her as well http://www.healthcarejourney.com/patient-blog/ms-and-exercise

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego

It’s wonderful that you are participating in rowing, and a cooling vest is definitely the way to go! There are others with MS who are rowing in the heat. Where I work we have an adaptive rowing program, and many of our patients with MS participate.  Other things to consider when exercising in the summer heat is to make sure you stay hydrated!!! I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but it really is so important! So many of our body systems rely on water to work properly, and when you are dehydrated not only can you become very ill, but you will fatigue much more quickly.  Additionally, trying to plan your exercise at cooler times of the day is a good idea too. The hot summer sun isn’t good for any of us, so if you can exercise earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon/evening, you will stay cooler and protect yourself from the sun and dehydration!

Sarah Wargo,PT,DPT,MSCS
Outpatient Rehab
Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
490 Blue Hills Ave.
Hartford, Ct. 06112


I too am an enthusiastic rower with secondary progressive MS. I have transitioned to an indoor

adaptive rowing program. Depending on your personal goals, the program can accommodate the casual to the competitive.  A number of us even competed in the annual Crash B's at Boston University. When I to go out onto the river, I make sure that it is early in the morning before the heat has set in and that I am rowing with a few strong bodies in the boat just in case I need to take a rest. If you want more information, check out: 

http://www.spauldingrehab.org/research-and-clinical-trials/exercise-persons-disabilities