Multiple Sclerosis(MS) is a neurological condition that varies significantly in symptoms and severity. In multiple sclerosis, damage to the myelin sheaths of the nerves leads to plaque buildup that interferes with the nerves functioning, leading to physical impairment, and loss of cognitive function.
Physical Therapy is a common treatment for MS patients. When using physical therapy for MS treatment the focus of the therapy is is on reducing further loss of mobility, improve balance and coordination and ensuring proper fitting for necessary assistance equipment such as braces or walkers.
One concern of using physical therapy for treatment of MS is the exhaustion that is common to MS sufferers. MS causes people to tire quickly, and often after very little physical activity. It is important that a patient receiving physical therapy for MS informs their therapist when they are tiring, and make sure that the therapist is aware of their limits. While it is common in physical therapy to push patients to do more with some disorders, over exertion in MS can cause a physiological backlash that will make the symptoms of pain, weakness and exhaustion worse until the patient recovers. How long recovery takes varies depending on how far the patient over exerted themselves. One or more days unable to get out of bed for every day of exertion is not unheard of.
Physical therapy for MS can be very difficult and painful for the patient. One MS sufferer described physical therapy as ‘horribly painful’. However, that same suffer said that it was ‘entirely worth it’ and that thanks to the therapy, she was able to lift her arm over her shoulder for the first time in years.
Each person suffering from MS will have to decide for themselves if the benefits of physical therapy – increased mobility and function – are worth it.
