Why I Take My MS to the Gym

I wanted to start PT for my balance and strength. My second day my strength peetered out, and my body hurt. I hope you are young when diagnosed. UAE your body all you can. I wish I did that when I was young.
Be well and stay cool.

I like yoga, walking and rowing, which is a good cardio and whole body workout that’s especially suited for those with balance issues, joint issues or walking difficulties. There’s also the MS Gym that Trevor Wicken does on Facebook and YouTube, excellent to address specific issues.
Important thing is to keep moving no matter how little
Remember ANY exercise is better than NO exercise.

I've been riding a recumbent bike at the YMCA the past few weeks. I've started doing a 30 minute workout, with a 10 minute cool down. I try to get at least five days of workouts in a week per my cardiologist's instructions. I think the next time I go in to the YMCA, I'll ask for a box fan to put over by me so I don't overheat. At least I bring water with me while I exercise, which allows me to cool down a little during and after my routine.

On days I don't feel like getting to the gym, I turn on YouTube and do my workouts at home (like this morning). The link you provided above are the ones I've already subscribed to. I really like them, and highly encourage everyone with MS who can't get to a gym to do some form of activity. The great thing about the MS videos is it's geared for everyone, regardless of mobility.

You are right, Ed; exercising has helped with my fatigue and mood like it has yours. My goal is to help improve the ejection fraction of my heart since I was recently diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Hopefully there's some improvement by the end of August when I have another echocardiogram. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and thinking good thoughts.

I am fortunate enough to have a basement. That is where our treadmill is. Between the coolness of the basement and a oscillating fan I can get a walk in. If needed there is a recliner in the basement too where I can rest up before climbing the stairs again.

Hi Ed,
I am a 57 year old MS'er in the secondary progressive stage after only 6 years. I need to use two canes/walking sticks and a FES device (Bioness 300) when I leave the house.

I agree with you about the necessity of exercising as much as possible. My motto is "do what you can, when you can".

I've found that water aerobics is the best exercise for me. I try to participate in a 1 hour class 3 X per week. I am working out in cool water so I don't overheat often and if I do, dunking my head usually does the trick. My class consists of a 10 min warm-up and stretch, 20 mins of aerobics, 20 minutes of strength training, and a 10 minute cool-down which incorporates balance and stretching. I can do so many of the things I am unable to do on land anymore. Thanks to the buoyancy of water, I can run, jump, and skip during my workouts. It feels glorious!

I do get fatigued, and am not able to do anything too taxing the rest of the day, but I am convinced it is the reason I am still able to walk on land.

If you have access to a water aerobics class, give it a go!

I am so glad that I read your column today. I have just reached the age of 70, two of my friends who I used to attend exercise classes with died during the past year. So to read about ways to keep on exercising was just what I needed. Thank you!

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only MS'er that "takes their MS to the gym". I started going about 2 years ago with hopes of regaining strength I've lost, keep the strength I have, and hopes to keep my legs strong. I am 36 years old and was diagnosed when I was about 25. This is my first time joining and going to a gym. I am fortunate enough to still be able to work full-time; although because of that I am only able to go to the gym on days off. After the work day, I am far too wiped out. I find that I look forward to going; just zoning out with my headphones on. It most definitely helps my state of mind and I enjoy feeling the "good" kind of pain after. I would much rather be in pain from working out than in pain from MS. :)

There is exercise for all. Your personality, interests and capabilities will determine that. I don't have MS but I do physical therapy. You need cardio, strength ,flexibility and balance. Trampoline exercise also called rebound can help with all of the above and more....including lymph detox! Start with health bounce and gradually increase.

I'm glad that the need to keep exercising with MS is now being highlighted in the mainstream. I believe it is really important to keep moving with any stage of the disease. I'm 42 years diagnosed and have found that exercise has been of exceptional value, not only in keeping me fit enough to resist, and recover from, relapses, but also in maintaining that positive mental attitude which is an imperative with MS. While I had been pretty active throughout, I started a rigorous training regime with a personal trainer some 10 years back and have since taken up climbing mountains (ok, relatively easy ones so far) and hiking ultra marathons. There are always some work-arounds that have to be used to accommodate my poor balance, lousy proprioception and unreliable left leg, and that normally causes a great deal of hilarity - for a long while my trainer and I were the cabaret at my gym as I fell off pieces of equipment. I have now relinquished my quest to stand on a swiss ball - it just isn't going to happen! Instead I give myself a fresh challenge each year and am just back from climbing the Inca Trail in Peru.

Years long remission has enabled me to contribute to my continued well being with exercise. The benefits have been endless. I've adopted a regular 15 minute routine, six days a week. While ms tore through my life in the early years, the destructive disease now appears to lurk in the shadow. The neurologist says I'm a lucky man. I wholeheartedly agree! I was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago. Good luck to everyone.