April 15, 2024 Columns by Leigh Anne Nelson What does ‘delicate balance’ mean in my life with multiple sclerosis? The title of my column is āDelicate Balance,ā though I didn’t pick that name. I was telling my family about the opportunity to be a patient columnist for this site and mentioned that I needed to name my column. Immediately, my husband said, āThe title is ‘Delicate Balance.'” I…
February 28, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Balance training helps both in easing fatigue, restoring balance: Small trial Both balance and endurance training can help to ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā but if problems with balance are a concern, then balance training would be the best choice as it targets both fatigue and balance, a small study found. The study, āFatigue may…
February 19, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Caffeine tablets may help MS patients’ balance, mobility Taking caffeine tablets ā the equivalent to about two cups of coffee a day ā may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) keep their balance and move more easily, which could aid their quality of life, a small study suggests. While the tablets may…
November 22, 2022 Columns by Jamie Hughes Sweeter Than Honey: Finding the Balance That Works for You Iām a fairly neat and tidy person, but you wouldnāt have thought that if youād looked in my kitchen over the last few weeks. Bottles of oils, jars full of melted wax, bags of butters and soaps, and boxes were scattered everywhere. My husband is a beekeeper, and…
September 1, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Review Showcases Inconsistencies in MS Auditory, Vestibular Research Abnormalities in the auditory and vestibular systems, which control hearing and balance, are frequently reported among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study found. However, there is a substantial amount of variability in scientific studies that assess these abnormalities, making it difficult to draw an overarching conclusion about…
August 25, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Aquatic Exercise Found to Ease Fatigue, Improve Balance in MS Aquatic exercise therapy can help to ease fatigue and improve balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), without notable side effects, according to a review of published studies. These findings have important implications for MS patients, as fatigue is among the main symptoms of the disease and…
August 10, 2022 Columns by Beth Ullah How Paw-fect Pets Improve Life With Chronic Illness Having grown up in the countryside, I’ve been around animals my entire life. We always had dogs and cats, and I learned how to ride horses. It was tranquil and storybook. When I left home to take a trip or attend university, I experienced a void only the animals in…
July 28, 2022 Columns by Stephen De Marzo The Heat Is On: Coping With PPMS and High Temperatures Oh, brother, itās hot! How hot? Well, my thermometer hit āare you kidding meā levels. My experience with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) has taught me that an 0.5-degree rise in body temperature is enough to cause a shutdown. Allow me to explain what itās like when my…
May 25, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Exergaming Shows ‘Superior’ Efficacy at Easing MS Symptoms in Trial A five-week, high-intensity video game-based exercise program called exergaming outperformed other forms of exercise at easing symptoms and improving life quality in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a small trial found. While all exercise programs slowed symptom worsening over two subsequent years of lower-intensity exercises, exergaming led to the…
February 9, 2022 Columns by Beth Ullah The Jagged Edges of My Altered Reality “You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming?ā ā James Matthew Barrie Being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis significantly changed my perception of myself and the surrounding world. This drastic shift has been overwhelming and difficult to accept in many ways. The…
December 3, 2021 Columns by Jamie Hughes Do What You Can Do (And No More) I donāt know about you, but last week passed in a blur. I typically enjoy Thanksgiving, but this year, things were a little wonky. My husbandās grandfather passed away a month or so ago, so we werenāt about to ask his grandmother to prepare anything. My mother-in-law and I decided…
September 9, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell As My Disease Progresses, I Choose to Grow I watch my multiple sclerosis progress. I see it progress in moments of defeat. I think of it when I fall. I curse it when I break or canāt open things. I grieve over it when my body fails me. I watch as my independence slips away like…
March 25, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Management through meditation: Balance can happen with MS Last updated April 25, 2023 Expectations equal resentment. It’s simple logic, yet profoundly true. Each time I set an expectation for myself or someone else, I set myself up for a potential letdown. Resentment happens as a byproduct of disappointment, despite the best intentions. As my multiple sclerosis (MS)…
March 23, 2021 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Pilates Helps Men With MS Gain in Balance to Lower Fall Risk, Study Finds Pilates, done regularly, can significantly improve balance and posture inĀ men with multiple sclerosis (MS), helping them to avoid falls and the injuries they can bring, a small randomized trial in Iran reports. The study, āEffect of Twelve weeks Pilates training on functional balance of male patients…
November 12, 2020 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Fighting Through Grief While Moving Forward Overachieving is my jam. Go big or go home. I strive to be the best at whatever it is I do. Currently, I am achieving greatness in my ability to fall. Three falls in three weeks is a new record. The first one happened in the kitchen. Upon feeling myself…
October 2, 2020 Columns by Jamie Hughes Balance Is Relative Multiple sclerosis has taught me many lessons over the last 16 years, and one of the most lasting ones has been about finding balance. I canāt run like a madwoman from one task to the next and not expect consequences. There has to be a balance between work and rest.
September 17, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #MSVirtual2020 – Tysabri Better Than Other DMTs at Easing Some MS Symptoms Tysabri (natalizumab) is superior to other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) at improving balance and vision, easing bladder problems and sexual dysfunction, and alleviating anxiety in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from an Australian study. The study’s findings were presented at…
June 25, 2020 News by David Melamed, PhD Walking Patterns of MS Patients Studied to Reduce Risk of Falling People with multiple sclerosis (MS) exert increased caution with their walking pattern and take smaller steps overall, a study shows. These findings could contribute to the development of better walking rehabilitation programs and decrease the risk of falls. The study, “Influence of Multiple Sclerosis on Dynamic…
March 17, 2020 News by David Melamed, PhD Virtual Reality Test Can Detect Subtle Balance Issues in MS Patients A new test involving a virtual reality simulation was able to detect balance issues in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially allowing doctors to identify whether a patient is at risk of falling despite having no apparent problems with walking, according to new research. The results of the study,…
April 23, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Study Will Explore Benefits of Tai Chi, Meditation on MS Patients’ Physical Balance A pilot study has been launched toĀ assess the immediate and enduring benefits of tai chi and mindfulness meditation on the physical balance and mental wellness of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This community-based study ā currently enrolling participants ā is being conducted by the Motor Control Lab directed by Richard van Emmerik, PhD, professor of kinesiology atĀ theĀ University of Massachusetts Amherst.Ā The project was awarded a $54,972 one-year grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. While many MS symptoms vary from patient to patient, depending on the extent and location of the damage in the brain and spinal cord, difficulty in maintaining physical balanceĀ is a generalized complaint. Several MS symptoms can have an effect on balance, includingĀ difļ¬cultiesĀ with coordination, tremor and muscle weakness, stiffness, orĀ dizziness and vertigo. "Mind-body interventions are beneficial as they train dynamic balance, such as transitioning between postures, turning, reaching, etc., in a manner similar to movements in daily life," Julianna Averill, a doctoral student at van Emmerikās lab, said in a press release. Postural control and balance confidence is crucial to prevent patients' falls and reduce their fear of falling. Finding strategies that help patients cope and overcome this limitation is crucial, Averill noted. Contrary to other studies, which focus on mental health benefits, this project will look mostly at the effects of mindfulness practice on physical balance. Tai chi also will be evaluated for its potential to improve patientsā balance, both while they are standing and as they move. Participants will be randomly assigned to either eight weeks of free tai chi at YMAA Western Mass Tai Chi or mindfulness meditation classes at Downtown Mindfulness, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that involvesĀ bodyĀ stretching and slow, focused, flowing postures that keep the body in motion. Mindfulness meditation is based on mindfulness practices, including training on body scan meditation, and loving kindness meditation. Participants will attend classes for 2.5 hours per week, where they will receive training to complete an additional 2.5 hours at home each week. At home, participants are asked to listen to meditation podcasts, or watch tai chi videos via a website that also tracks their activity. āThe participants will be trained, and they will be able to practice on their own,āĀ Averill said. Patients' postural sway will be recorded by wearable sensors while performing distinct movements at the study start, at the end of all classes, and two weeks later. On the same visits, participants will be surveyed to assess the frequency of falls, balance confidence, level of fatigue, and ability to cope and adapt. āWeāre taking a more holistic look, considering the whole person and overall quality of life,āĀ Averill said. The team plans to enroll 30 participants withĀ mild-to-moderate MS symptoms, aged 21 to 70, and who areĀ able to stand and move without assistance for 15 minutes. For more information about the study and how to participate, contact Averill at [email protected].
March 7, 2019 News by BioNews Staff UK Team to Test Robot-assisted Exercise to Improve Balance in MS Patients Researchers at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, U.K., are recruiting 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who can walk at least eight meters with a walking aid to test the effectiveness of a five-week exercise program using assistive robotic technology. A patient completes balance and strengthening exercises using the…
January 24, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein New Products Intended to Stimulate Feet of MS Patients Naboso TechnologyĀ has expanded its product offerings with new insoles and training mats specifically designed to stimulate the nervous system through the skin on the bottom of the feet. The products were developed to help improve balance, posture, movement and restore motor function, as part of aĀ neurorehabilitation strategy…
December 13, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Lipoic Acid Supplements May Help to Delay Decline in Walking Speed in SPMS Patients, Study Says Lipoic acid (LA), an over-the-counter antioxidant supplement, helps to mildly delay a decline in walking speed inĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS)Ā patients, particularly those with lesser disability, analysis of a small, two-year clinical study reports. No improvements were seen in balance among…
November 9, 2018 News by Stacy Grieve, PhD Exercise Program Based on Ballet Improves Motor Control and Balance in MS Patients, Study Reports A non-traditional exercise program that incorporates movements used in ballet was found to improve motor control and balance in women with multiple sclerosis, leading its researchers to recommend dance movements be part of such interventions for MS patients. The study, “Targeted ballet program mitigates ataxia and improves…
August 2, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Multiple Sclerosis Patients Identify Symptoms that Worsen Quality of Life Loss of health-related quality of life is caused mostly by balance problems, muscle stiffness, and depression in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS),Ā and for those with progressive MS, the causes are muscle rigidity, paralysis, weakness, and pain, according toĀ a…
February 14, 2018 Columns by Mike Knight The MS Balancing Act: Steady As We Go Gait and balance issues and MS go together like peanut butter and chocolate.Ā At least they do to me. In one way or another, theyāve been in the foreground of my life since I was diagnosed in 2013.
February 6, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Balance, Sensory Stimulation Exercises Can Improve MS Symptoms, BEEMS Program Shows A specially tailored program focused on balance and eye-movement exercises can help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients improve balance, dizziness, fatigue, and quality of life, according to a…
February 5, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD MS Society Calls Attention to Recent Research into Gait and Movement Problems Difficulties with walking and balance are common among people with multiple sclerosis and strongly affect their quality of life ā even when disease progression may not be evident on scans or other measures of MS advance, according to research presented at a meeting last fall and recently reviewed by theĀ National…
August 24, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Horseback Riding Plus Standard Care Can Help MS Patients Improve Balance, Other Symptoms Therapeutic horseback riding, also known as hippotherapy, when combined with standard care regimens significantly reduces fatigue and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. It also improves balance and quality of life, according to a German study. Hippotherapy takes advantage of a horse's natural movements to develop a patient's muscle tone and improve breathing, while strengthening the torso muscles. Horseback riding also improves balance control, coordination and gait, while boosting a patient's social communication skills, which can benefit self-esteem. āHippotherapy as a complementary treatment can be defined as one-patient-one-horse physiotherapy treatment with and on the horse,ā researchers wrote. Team leaders Vanessa Vermƶhlen and Petra Schiller of the University of Cologne evaluated the benefits of half-hour weekly sessions of hippotherapy in combination with standard care. They randomly assigned 70 MS patients with lower limb spasticity to either an intervention group that did 12 weeks of hippotherapy, or a control group that received only standard therapy. The team evaluated the impact therapeutic horseback riding had on balance, measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). They also measured its effect on other multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs, including fatigue, quality of life, pain, and spasticity. Overall, the team found that those who received hippotherapy plus standard care improved their BBS scores by 4.8 points after six weeks of therapy, and 6.4 by the trial's end. These increases were significantly higher than those achieved by the control group (2.9 points at six weeks and 3.1 points at 12 weeks). Although this represents a difference of only 3.3 points after 12 weeks, it still reflects a relevant change in patients' balance control capabilities, the authors said. In addition, the researchers also recognized significant improvements in fatigue, spasticity and quality of life of those undergoing hippotherapy plus standard care compared to those on the control group. The observed beneficial effects of hippotherapy validate previous reports that showing that activities with horses could help adults and children improve their balance, gait and psychomotor abilities.
July 10, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson How to Improve MS-Related Imbalance One of the earliest symptoms that appeared before my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis was imbalance. I remember turning my head to look at something and feeling slightly off-balance. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but that wobbly sensation gradually increased through the years. Occasionally, I…