June 19, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD CMSC Meeting Focuses on Challenges, Solutions to Quality of Life Issues Nearly 3,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) healthcare providers and researchers Ā convened recently to share their findings regarding the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of MS. However, unlike past meetings, this year’s 34th Annual Meeting of theĀ Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) took place online. Virtual presentations covered the…
May 22, 2020 Columns by Ed Tobias Giving My Laptop the Weekend Off My favorite line in the “Downton Abbey” TV series, uttered by the dowager played by Maggie Smith, is “What’s a weekend?” When you’re retired, if you’re working as a freelancer, or if like me you’re doing both, it’s easy to forget what day of the week it is. There are…
May 18, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS National MS Society Expert Panel Offers Guidelines for Regular Exercise Healthcare providers should encourage everyone with multiple sclerosis (MS) to engage in regular exercise and keep physically active, new guidelines based on an expert panel convened by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommend. They also suggest different types of exercise applicable to people at varying levels of disability.
April 29, 2020 Columns by Stephanie Towler Staying Active During the Pandemic with a Little Help from Tech Staying active can help you to manage multiple sclerosis (MS) by helping to reduce the severity and frequency of many symptoms. For example, fatigue is my worst symptom and my narcolepsy doesn’t make it any better, but a regular workout routine has reduced my exhaustion. I love the gym,…
April 28, 2020 News by Mary Chapman Collaborative Program in Canada Offers Exercise and Social Sessions During Pandemic During the COVID-19Ā pandemic, a University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine initiative is offering a free virtual exercise and social connection program to individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions, according toĀ a press release. Called NeuroSask, the initiative is in collaboration with…
April 2, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Regular Exercise ‘Strongly Recommended’ to Ease Fatigue in MS Physical exercise can ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and potentially benefit them in many other ways, and should be part of rehabilitation programs for patients, a large review study suggests. The study,Ā “The impact of physical exercise on the fatigue symptoms in patients with…
March 11, 2020 News by Mary Chapman MSAA Events Focus on Mind-Body Connection to Mark MS Awareness Month The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is offering a host of educational activities on wellness strategies that address both the mind and body in its efforts to mark Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Each year, a month is set aside to heighten awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS),…
January 10, 2020 News by Catarina Silva Vitalis Plans to Launch Phase 3 Trial Testing VTS-72 as Treatment for RRMS-related Flushing Vitalis will soon test VTS-72, a new formulation of fumarate and VTS-Aspirin, in a Phase 3 trial as a treatment for flushing ā facial redness, itching or rash ā in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS). Flushing is a common side effect of an oral MS therapy called…
December 13, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Sitting Less, Walking More May Be Feasible Way to Healthier Life with MS, Study Suggests Small changes in daily activities, like sitting less and walking more, may be healthful for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) without the challenges of formal exercise. A new study,Ā “Management of multiple sclerosis symptoms through reductions in sedentary behaviour: protocol for a feasibility study,” published inĀ BMJ…
October 9, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD CMSC Grant to Support Kessler Foundation Study of Low-risk Exercise in MS The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) has awarded a grant to Kessler Foundation researchers, supporting a pilot study into how well different low-risk exercise regimens ease multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms and improve patients’ well-being. The grant recipients areĀ John DeLuca, PhD, senior vice president for…
September 4, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MS Relationships Improved by Togetherness and Communication, Study Suggests Relationships between multiple sclerosis patients and their intimate partners were enhanced when the couple worked together to make lifestyle changes, and to develop skills to improve communication, a study shows.Ā
June 26, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Vegetable-rich Diet, Other Interventions, May Help Lower Fatigue in Progressive MS, Pilot Study Finds One year of a vegetable-rich diet ā combined with exercise, neuromuscular stimulation, and stress reduction techniques ā is effective in easing fatigue in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers say the results may be linked to changes in blood fat levels, in particular cholesterol. This integrative…
May 24, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias Why I Take My MS to the Gym I rode a recumbent bike for 15 minutes today. That’s a record for me, and it felt great. The bike ride was part of an overall exercise routine that I’ve set up for myself at the gym. It mirrors what I was doing about 15 years ago, when I was…
April 24, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD MS Trust Promotes Multiple Initiatives in UK to Encourage Exercise The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Trust, a charity organization that provides support to MS patients in the United Kingdom, is urging them to remain active and find ways to introduce physical activity into their daily routine, as part of its “Move it for MS” campaign. The organization’s…
March 14, 2019 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: What Is Chair Yoga? Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “Chair yoga” from April 14, 2018.
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…
February 11, 2019 Columns by Debi Wilson MS Boosts the Importance of Avoiding a Sedentary Lifestyle Multiple sclerosis (MS) can make our bodies experience pain, become weak, and easily fatigue. We can find it difficult just to walk. These challenges can steal our motivation to be active. But without regular activity, we become sedentary, which can increase weakness and fatigue symptoms that cause additional health…
February 1, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Study Shows Benefits of Low Temperature Exercise for MS Patients Reducing body temperature during physical exercise can help rewire the brain and improve motor control in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new research study at Canada’sĀ Memorial University shows. Physical exercise can have several benefits for patients with MS, including improved strength and reduced symptoms of fatigue and…
January 4, 2019 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD Cooling Therapy Before Exercise Can Increase Physical Activity in MS Patients Lowering body temperature helps to improve exercise and functional capability in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) patients by preventing disease worsening, researchers in Ā Greece report. The study with that finding, āImpact of pre-cooling therapy on the physical performance and functional capacity of multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review,ā was published in…
November 27, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Lifestyle Factors Tied to MS-related Depression, Large Study Finds Changeable lifestyle factors influence the risk and severity of depression associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study based on a large group of patients shows. According to the study,Ā alcohol consumption in particular was linked negatively withĀ depression incidence and severity. In addition, a healthy diet and vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation…
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…
October 25, 2018 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD PRIMERS Framework Aims to Better Understand How Exercise Helps Movement and Cognition in MS Patients A new conceptual framework, called PRIMERS, has been proposed as a way of better understanding howĀ physical exerciseĀ works to improve cognition and mobility in people withĀ multiple sclerosis, and using what’s learned to create new types of rehabilitation therapy for MS patients. PRIMERS, conceived by a team led by researchersĀ the…
September 18, 2018 News by Ashraf Malhas, PhD Grant Awarded to Research New Method to Treat Cognitive Dysfunction in Progressive MS The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation have awarded a $410,000 grant to fund research based on a new method for treating cognitive dysfunction in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). About 70% of progressive MS patients suffer from cognitive abnormalities that…
August 23, 2018 News by Catarina Silva MS Patients Speak of Importance of Exercise and Activity to Overall Sense of Well-Being in UK Study People with multiple sclerosis (MS) value exercise and physical activity far beyond the concept of “staying fit,” and consider exercise essential to maintaining a reasonable level of independence and being able to engage in social activities, a small U.K. study based on interviews reports.Ā The study, ā…
May 25, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Limited Use of Large Muscles Affects Health of Nerve Cell-producing Stem Cells in Brain, Mouse Study Finds Lesser time spentĀ exercising and using large muscles can result in serious alterations in the metabolism of brain stem cells and their ability to generate new nerve cells, a study suggests. These findings can help to explain why patients with neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis andĀ spinal muscular atrophy,…
March 14, 2018 Columns by Judy Lynn Why I Climb Trees In March 2003, I found myself suddenly unable to drive or even walk a straight line through the house. MS had arrived with several active lesions in my brain, including one in the brainstem, which affected my balance and speech and created significant limitations in my usual activities. One…
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…
December 11, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Diet Rich in Fruits, Veggies and Whole Grains May Slow MS Progression, Study Shows A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains may decrease symptoms and lessen disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The report, āDiet quality is associated with disability and symptom severity in multiple sclerosis,ā appeared in the journal Neurology. āPeople with MS…
December 8, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias What I Learned About My MS While on Vacation You wouldn’t think that a guy who was diagnosed with MS more than 37 years ago would still be able to learn a thing or two about his disease. But that’s exactly what I did while on vacation about a week ago. I guess I really did know…
November 29, 2017 Columns by Judy Lynn Exercise and Benefits of an Online Personal Trainer We all have heard that physical activity is important for maintaining health, strength and well-being. It may be even more important for people with MS. Exercise has been shown toĀ improve balance, strengthenĀ brain connections, improve sleep,Ā reduce pain,Ā help…