Exercise and MS


When you Google “Multiple Sclerosis and Exercise”, not too many options appear in the search results. What does come up in the results are usually one page of information about taking it easy, not exerting yourself and watching out for overheating. The recommendations are usually aqua-aerobics, yoga or tai-chi. I’m not saying that swimming or yoga are bad forms of exercise, but they are not the ONLY forms of exercise that are good or beneficial for us MSers. In fact, I find it somewhat frustrating that this is the picture painted of what is allowed and expected of individuals who have MS. In fact, I believe this is what is perpetuating the stereotype of rampant disability in MS.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise and movement is imperative for cellular and bodily function. Many processes in our bodies need us to move in order to function properly. How you define exercise is up to you, but there’s no doubt that it is a positive thing. Multiple studies have proven that exercise can be helpful for decreasing depression, improving energy, sleep and many other benefits. The benefits of exercise for us MSers are vary similar. Including the benefits listed above, other benefits include improvements with fatigue, pain, muscle tone, stability, balance, coordination, quality of life, social interaction, strength, gait issues and many others. All studies that I reviewed stated that participants saw improvements while participating in exercise than compared to when they were not exercising. However, some forms of exercise were superior to others in terms of participants retaining their gains over time.
Exercise for MS
Exercise is clearly beneficial for MSers, but what type? if not only yoga or swimming, what else is there? In my opinion, as an individual with MS and a Certified Personal Trainer, I believe that everyone should be doing what they can and want to be doing. That’s not a cop out answer, but as MS is an individual disease, your exercise program should be individualized as well. Just like there are no ‘one size fits all’ diets, there are no ‘one size fits all’ workout plans when talking about working out with MS (or working out in general).
Many exercises are positive for MSers. From walking to strength training, if your symptoms and body allow it, go for it. If you’re new to working out, and eventually want to workout for 30 minutes at a time, I recommend starting with 10 minutes at a time, then gradually increasing and seeing how your body responds and try this 3 days a week. I also recommend talking to your doc, physical therapist or a personal trainer to get a program to work with. Yes, there are many programs available online. Many are great, but many are not so great. Speaking with a professional that can speak to you about symptoms, goals and create a plan based on those can be very helpful.  The bottom line is don’t let a diagnosis stop you from starting or continuing physical activity. 
Exercise Considerations for MSers
There are many things to take into consideration when thinking about working out with MS. Some key symptoms to be aware of are balance, stability and gait. Basically anything that will interfere with preforming exercises in a safe way and with proper form. If symptoms interfere with those two things, then you should find a new exercise. Something else that I hear often is that fatigue gets in the way of working out. Let me start out by saying, I get you. I’ve been there tooThis is where we have options:
  1. Not working out at all. That’s perfectly ok! When I feel like getting up to get water is the hardest thing in the world, there’s no way that you could get me to do a workout, no matter how much I wanted to.
  2. Trying to move in ANY way. This is usually the option I like, and try to get to. Whether it’s a walk to the end of the street, 5-10 minutes of yoga or stretching in your living room, just getting some movement in for your cells is great.
Obviously it will be your choice about what you choose. But no matter what you choose, don’t let the opinion of others cloud your thought process, and please don’t judge yourself. Something to remember is that working out helps to relieve fatigue. I know that seems counter intuitive, but it is one of the symptoms that improves for everyone when they exercise.
Also, overheating is a concern for many. When our body temperature rises, often times we experience and increase in symptoms. These aren’t new symptoms, but something called a pseudo-exacerbation, where old symptoms become unmasked. Depending on your disease course, this could bring an end to your workout real quick. Therefore, staying cool during a workout is very important. Drinking ice water is one of the fastest ways to bring down your body temperature. Having that on hand for your workout is a great idea. Also, having a cool towel to use to cool off every so often is helpful. Being mindful about time of day and environment is helpful as well. Mid day isn’t the best time, and a hot gym might not be the best sometimes either. If these can’t be avoided, either ask for a fan or bring your own if one can’t be provided.
Something I have learned since having MS is that we need to be our own best advocate. Please don’t be nervous to ask for what you need, or to supply it yourself. You’d be surprised at what people and places allow you to do on your own, especially if they can’t do it for you.
Having MS doesn’t mean we have to quit working out, quite the contrary actually. We just need to be aware of our bodies, symptoms and make sure that whatever exercise we are participating in is helpful and not harmful. If you are interested in learning more about a specific workout plan, feel free to contact me here, we can work together to figure out a plan that is best for you!
As always, leave me a comment and tell me your thoughts! I’d love to hear what you think about exercise, or what society thinks about MSers and exercise.

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

follow along on Instagram:

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. 
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis. 

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition 
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management 

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in Multiple Sclerosis.

There are SO many tools that we can use to help improve our bodies functioning- which can in turn improve our MS symptoms.

The biggies that have helped me? 👇🏼

🥗Nutrition
🏋🏻‍♀️Movement
🧘🏻‍♀️Stress management

Want my most favorite, super short exercise that can help MS symptoms??

Comment: SLAP and I’ll send it to you!!

#lissms #SlapittoMapit #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
...

1 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge
...

0 0
Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes? 

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true? 

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short how to video!

Your body functioning better so you feel better in 3 minutes?

It sounds like a stupid infomercial BS claim I know and I roll my eyes every time I type it, but.. it’s kinda true?

Idk, I’ll let you be the final judge

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #slapittomapit #betterbrain
...

10 5
It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel. 

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Your possibilities are endless! 

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms

It’s an easy exercise with a silly name, but it actually packs a punch and can really change how you feel.

Imagine measurably more energy and feeling more stable and balanced- and even improving a few MS symptoms here and there too?🤷🏻‍♀️

Your possibilities are endless!

Comment SLAP and I’ll send you the short video about how to do it!

#lissms #slapittomapit multiplesclerosis #thisisms
...

16 4
Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system. 

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation

Take a time out for a literal minute.

It’s amazing what happens when you take the time to care for your body and nervous system.

#LissMS #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation
...

13 1
First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??

#lissms #cutflowergarden

First year flower garden needed a post. Already looking forward to next summer, maybe a little less yellow? Can’t wait for the zinnias to bloom!
😂🌼💛
What are you growing??

#lissms #cutflowergarden
...

17 0
Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻‍♀️

But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all. 

Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.

Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.

Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.

Comin with me? Hope so. 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms

Thankfully I haven’t heard any of these in a while.. maybe that means I’m getting my point across 🤷🏻‍♀️

But if you’re new here, I value holistic lifestyle medicine (snake oil 😂) but ALSO conventional medicine, I utilize it all after all.

Yes, what we do as an individual matters for our health.
But so does the health systems we as individuals operate in.

Tomorrow is my MS-aversary, 16 years of having this disease. my newly diagnosed 24 year old self would be pretty shocked that I’m 40 (like in general lol) and also not in a wheelchair.

Here’s to many more years defying what I initially thought to be true about MS.

Comin with me? Hope so.

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #lifewithms
...

35 4
I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.

And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??

Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer… 
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂

When was the last time you had this thought process??

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior

I’ve tripped a few times in the last few weeks.. nothing crazy, but I noticed.

And I noticed my thoughts… is this a “THING”??

Oh the constant wonderings of an MSer…
is this a regular life occurrence?
Or is this a new symptom? 😂😂

When was the last time you had this thought process??

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior
...

53 3
When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…

It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.

That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.

That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works

Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.

Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name 

#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing

When you’re living with MS, it’s not that you don’t want to feel better…

It’s just that life keeps interrupting the plan.
Stress, symptoms, fatigue — they throw you off track.

That’s where support, structure, and accountability change everything.

That’s exactly what my membership is for.
✔️ Evidence-based strategies for MS
✔️ Real community and support
✔️ Gentle consistency that actually works

Only the waitlist is getting access as a Founding Member.

Comment WAITLIST and I’ll send you the link to add your name

#lissms #MultipleSclerosis #MSwarrior #MSsupport #ChronicIllnessHealing #MScommunity #HolisticHealing #NervousSystemHealing
...

16 2
But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂

Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24. 
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.

Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst. 

I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.

That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do. 

Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids. 

That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.

Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity

But seriously.. this isn’t too far off 😂

Life handed me a lemon that was a MS diagnosis at 24.
Life handed me a lemon that was multiple relapses and MS progression by 30.

Then I snatched those lemons, made some healing lemonade, and feel night and day different than I did 10 years ago when my symptoms were at their worst.

I could do it, my clients are doing it, I know you can too.

That’s why I’m so passionate about doing what I do. I know it’s possible for you to feel better in your body and be able to do the things you want to do.

Like go for a walk or hike with your spouse, say yes to a spontaneous night out with friends or get up and down off the floor playing with your kids.

That’s why I want to invite you to the waitlist for what I have coming.

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.

Comment WAITLIST below and ill send you the link to join the list

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior #becausems #thisisms #communityheals #mscommunity
...

17 2
I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”

Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.

Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.

This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.

I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.

They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄

You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.

If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things.. 

BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport

I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”

Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.

Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.

This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.

I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.

They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄

You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.

If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things..

BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport
...

14 3

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