Author Topic: (Abst.) Exercise and physical activity recommendations for people w/MS  (Read 184 times)

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Offline agate

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The recommendation is that people with MS should have at least 150 hours/week of exercise or "lifestyle physical activity" (not specified). That amounts to 21 minutes/day. Those with limited mobility should have a trained assistant for the purpose, according to the recommendation.

From Multiple Sclerosis Journal (April 23, 2020),  "Exercise and lifestyle physical activity recommendations for people with multiple sclerosis throughout the disease course," the abstract of a paper compiled by the National MS Society and others.


https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1352458520915629
« Last Edit: June 12, 2022, 09:35:00 pm by agate »
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

Offline ewizabeth

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I had a very good physical therapist for three months. She instructed me on specific exercises to help with my leg and back strength. I was having to almost crawl up the stairs and it was getting worse all the time. I'm doing better with the stairs now and I can still do some gardening with a cane and a garden kneeler. I think my routine takes about an hour, three times a week.
« Last Edit: July 21, 2020, 09:48:52 am by agate »

Offline agate

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A good PT is a treasure. I've been lucky--all of the PTs so far have been excellent.  I hope that the latest one, whom I've been to for two different PT courses, will still be there if the need arises.


That sounds like a good exercise routine you have.


I've seen garden kneelers with handles on them advertised, and they look as if they'd be useful if they're stable enough. Something like this:


MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

Offline ewizabeth

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That's almost exactly like the one I got!

Offline agate

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I've never tried one of these but wonder if the vertical parts are sturdy?


I use a kneeling pad that is just the pad without the stand-up aid. Instead I position the pad so I'm close to something very strong and stable so I can hoist myself up by hanging onto it. Otherwise I'm up a creek.


Not gardening any more on my knees but often have to kneel indoors in order to find things on the floor or pick them up when I drop and scatter things.
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

Offline ewizabeth

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This is very sturdy. My arms aren't as strong as they were but I can still get myself up from kneeling or sitting with this. It's not so heavy that I can't drag it around the yard. My left knee aches so I can only do limited kneeling but I usually sit on it instead, then use the sides to help get myself up. I only have one in-ground veggie garden but I think we need to put some kind of raised beds in there in the spring. We have two raised beds now, not pretty, but functional, one for tomatoes and the other for peppers. They are much easier to manage.

Offline agate

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I recall preferring sitting over kneeling when I was doing gardening too. Much easier to get up!


Weeding was easy enough because I could just stop at any time but if I had a bunch of bulbs to dig in, I wanted to do them all at once--even though there was no clear reason why some of them couldn't have waited.


Taking time to stop and rest, even if it's a whole day's time, is something I have to keep reminding myself I can do. The temptation is always to get the project done--just because setting it up all over again is another project.
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

Offline ewizabeth

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Not only to stop and rest, but to go out when it's not too hot. I have to be aware of the mosquitoes as well. But it's all worth it because it helps with my mood so much! Our yard is like a little nature preserve because we've lived here for 30 years now and we try to make it environmentally welcoming for all of the local wildlife. The veggie gardens are well protected with chicken wire and that keeps out most of the scavengers.

Offline agate

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Staying on in one place has huge advantages when it comes to gardening. Gardens are much more satisfying as the years go by and the perennials really get going.


And over time you learn the strengths and weaknesses of the situation--the way the light is, the type of soil, etc.


Yes, avoiding the heat is a fine art!  I would try to do yard work in the early morning hours but one pitfall there was that it almost always warmed up all too soon, and I'd be out there wondering why I was getting so weak and fumbly--then realizing that the heat had become too much for me.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2022, 09:31:17 pm by agate »
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

 

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