Study shows ocean sailing safe, feasible for adults with MS
10-day expedition provides 'initial evidence' for participation
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A study found ocean sailing can be safe for people with MS.
- A study found ocean sailing to be a safe, feasible physical activity for adults with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis.
- Participants in a 10-day sailing expedition experienced no measurable physical or cognitive decline.
- Researchers recommend further studies with larger groups to determine if ocean sailing can provide meaningful benefits.
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be able to enjoy ocean sailing as a way to stay active, a small study found, with participants showing no measurable decline in physical or cognitive function after a 10-day expedition.
All participants completed the planned sailing activities, although two-thirds experienced some degree of seasickness. Testing after the expedition also revealed a small improvement in hand dexterity, but the change was not considered clinically relevant.
These findings provide “initial evidence [suggesting] ocean sailing may represent a feasible and safe form of physical activity for people with MS,” the researchers wrote.
The study,”Effects of a 10-day ocean sailing intervention on physical and cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis,” was published in the International Journal of MS Care.
MS symptoms include fatigue, mobility and balance problems, abnormal sensations, and cognitive difficulties. Physical activity can help people with MS maintain function and manage symptoms. While conventional training programs are usually effective, some researchers speculate that activities combining lower intensity with longer duration of exercise may be more beneficial or easy to tolerate for people with MS.
Sailing offers benefits
Ocean sailing requires continuous adjustments to posture and movement in response to the boat’s motion. This may provide ongoing challenges to balance, coordination, and motor control while allowing participants to engage in physical activity over extended periods.
The Oceans of Hope initiative has enabled people with MS to participate in ocean sailing expeditions. Previous studies showed positive effects, such as increased self-confidence and quality of life, as well as reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. However, the effects of sailing on physical function have not been objectively measured.
The researchers evaluated 15 adults with MS who participated in a continuous 10-day ocean sailing intervention. Participants’ mean age was 48.1. They had been living with MS for a mean of 11.4 years and had mild to moderate disability. Fourteen participants had relapsing-remitting MS, and one had primary progressive MS.
The sailing took place in Scandinavian waters, with routes between Denmark and Scotland. Participants served as crew members under the supervision of three experienced sailors, taking part in activities such as steering, navigation, boat maneuvers, keeping watch, cooking, and cleaning.
The researchers assessed participants’ muscle function, walking speed, balance, and hand dexterity, and cognitive function one to three days before sailing and again within three days of their return. Eight participants completed a follow-up assessment three months later.
Overall, the 10-day intervention did not lead to significant changes in leg muscle strength, walking speed, grip strength, balance, or cognitive performance.
However, participants showed improvements on a manual dexterity test, completing the test on average 1.52 seconds faster using their stronger hand after sailing. However, these changes were not considered clinically relevant, and no significant improvement was observed in their weaker hand.
Participants also experienced a small reduction in body weight (mean 0.6%). This change was likewise considered too small to be clinically meaningful, but “it highlights the elevated nutritional requirements during ocean sailing,” the researchers wrote.
Ten participants experienced mild or moderate seasickness during the expedition, but no serious adverse events or dropouts were reported.
Adherence to the sailing activities was 100%, meaning all participants completed their scheduled work sessions. However, two had to switch their schedules on two occasions because of moderate seasickness.
“Taken together, this indicates that ocean sailing may be considered to be feasible for mildly to moderately impaired adults with MS,” the researchers wrote.
The small number of participants and absence of a control group were pointed out by the researchers as study’s limitations. It also remains unclear whether people with more severe MS-related disability could safely participate in similar activities.
Further studies with more participants and longer sailing periods may help determine whether ocean sailing can produce meaningful benefits in physical function and overall well-being, the researchers said.
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