Impact of Exercise on Fatigue and Performance of ADLs in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath protecting the nerves surrounding the spinal cord. This disease is scarring the nerves surrounding the spinal cord, which disrupts the messages between the brain and spinal cord that are trying to be relayed. The most common symptoms that patients with MS experience are fatigue, weakness, vision problems, numbness and tingling, dizziness, and emotional changes. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, fatigue occurs in about 80% of the people that have it and that is the higher percentage of the rest of the symptoms. Fatigue is a tedious symptom to deal with and ranges differently from person to person. It can become a major problem when it starts to affect their activities of daily living (ADL’s).
LAUREN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
Lauren, 27 years old, is my sister who was diagnosed with MS a year ago. She has relapsing-remitting MS, which is having relapses of MS periods of new or familiar symptoms. Even though she has only had this disease for a year, her symptoms can be harsh on her body. She has had to limit her hours at her workplace due to feeling fatigued, mentally and physically. This entire situation would be very different to my family and I, if there was a cure for this disease. Since there is no cure, my research revolved around her. I wanted to see how I could help her in the long run with her symptoms. Relapsing-remitting MS gradually gets worse as you age. With that being said, it stirs the question… What are ways to reduce the symptoms of MS?
THE RESULTS SAY IT ALL…
Being inactive, only makes the symptoms of MS worsen as you age, which is why enforcing physical activity now, will decrease the chances of becoming deconditioned. According to the research, exercise has been proven to reduce the symptoms of MS overall, especially fatigue. There are a vast amount of benefits regarding exercise; feeling accomplished, increasing energy levels, increasing strength of muscles and bones, stress-relieving, and reducing risks of chronic diseases. Can physical activity have an impact on people with MS?
In a study done by Bilge, et. al.,(2017), they measured the effects of aerobic and Pilates exercises on the symptoms of MS. This was an 8-week exercise program where the participants would exercise regularly. The physical performance tests revealed a difference in the Pilates exercise group, but aerobic exercise benefited more and had better improvement from this study. The results showed that patients with MS had a more positive outlook on their disease, when they noticed their symptoms being reduced.
Another study done by Guillamo, et. al., (2018), had mild to moderate MS patients that were tested on the feasibility and the effects of the two different physical exercise interventions. The 40-week programs are HIIT (high intensity interval training), home exercise program and home-based physical exercise program. The overall goal was to evaluate the participants to see if they were able to handle these types of exercise programs, considering their MS. These participants benefited from this study and were able to adapt to it, even with their symptoms. Walking is an impactful exercise when it comes to individuals struggling with physical activity.
The impacts of exercise on fatigue and performance of ADL’s in patients with MS showed positive changes with reducing the symptoms. This process takes time and dedication to notice the results and some changes to how the individual is feeling. The participants in the studies mentioned how their fatigue is so restricting to the point that it conflicts with their activities of daily living (ADLs). Such as, limiting their work hours, less time spent with family and friends, and simply just always needing that time to rest. Lauren has noticed a huge impact on how restricting her symptoms have been, even over the course of just one year. Implementing physical activity into the day-to-day lives of MS patients will improve their overall, quality of life.
WHAT IS NEXT?
The next step for research is implementing mild-moderate exercise programs for the management of MS. What needs to be looked at is the types of exercises that would benefit patients with MS the most. Fatigue is a tedious symptom and ranges differently, from person to person. With knowing how intense their symptoms are, it would benefit health-care providers into providing what types of exercise would benefit them the greatest.
Of course, there are patients with MS that range from being sedentary to very active individuals. Some exercises to be focused on when starting with a beginner is knowing the aerobic/cardiovascular activity, flexibility training, stretching, resistance training, and working with sets ad repetitions (reps). Click hereto find out more about the beginner’s guide to exercise. This information is crucial with getting into physical activity.
Overall, exercise reduces the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and improves the quality and longevity of life.
Hannah Jankowski, 22, student at Westfield State University. I am finishing up my last year at WSU, majoring in Movement Science with a concentration in sports medicine and minoring in Psychology. My goal in life is to get accepted into a graduate school to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy.
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