October 21, 2022 News by Mary Chapman Sordoni Construction Raises $40K for Comprehensive Wellness in MS A golfing fundraiser held by Sordoni Construction pulled in $40,000 to support comprehensive wellness programs for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center in New Jersey. The funds were raised in September during the 2022 Sordoni Construction Golf Classic. Some 128 golfers, as…
September 6, 2022 Columns by Jamie Hughes What a Novel Idea: The Many Benefits of Predictability When I was a kid, I adored novelty. I always wanted something different to experience, a new place to go. In my mind, there was nothing worse than doing the same thing week in and week out. However, Iāve come to appreciate routines as an adult, especially because…
November 20, 2020 Columns by Jamie Hughes On Being Truly Thankful Well, friends, we are coming to the end of 2020. Thanksgiving is next week, and believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. And while I canāt say Iām grateful for all the challenges this very weird and wacky year has presented me with, I remain so for…
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),…
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].
September 5, 2017 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc MS Society of Canada Creates ‘Wellness Toolbox’ to Help Patients Manage Their Disease The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada ā with input from both experts and patients ā has developed a "wellness toolbox" with strategies to help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients cope with their disease. Wellness is becoming a big area of research, particularly in patients with chronic diseases such as MS. With an estimated 291 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013, according to the Multiple Sclerosis International Foundation, Canada has the world's highest incidence of MS. While pharmaceutical and scientific research are advancing in the therapeutic area, studies are also underway to determine the contribution of wellness factors such as nutrition, physical activity and emotional well-being -- to quality of life for MS patients. With that in mind, the Toronto-based MS Society of Canada conducted a Wellness Survey, which led to the launch of the HermĆØs Canada | MS Society Wellness Research Innovation Grant. These grants are awarded to scientists conducting research on MS and wellness factors. The University of Saskatchewan, which received one such grant in 2016, investigated the effect of Pilates in people with MS. The study recruited 30 MS patients. Half took Pilates classes twice a week and massage therapy once a week, while the other half only did once-a-week massage therapy. Results showed that patients who took Pilates classes saw an improvement in their overall condition, compared to patients in the control group. To create its wellness toolbox, the MS Society of Canada received input from MS patients about strategies that have helped them manage the disease and live a full life.
June 19, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Highlights Diet, Lifestyle Research Focusing on Living Well With Multiple Sclerosis The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) SocietyĀ has selectedĀ research highlightsĀ from a recent MS conferenceĀ in an effort to help make living with the disease less burdensome. Presentations from the May 24-27Ā annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) in New Orleans ā which ranged fromĀ advice on smartphone apps to diet…
February 17, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Fitness Trainer and MS Patient, Dolly Stokes, Launch BFitLifestyles Website with Husband Dolly Stokes, a fitness trainer andĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā patient,Ā and her husband, Jeff Stokes, have launched the website for their fitness and wellness company,Ā BFitLifestyles, providing information on how to live an active and healthy life. The Stokes, owners of three fitness-related companies in Fairhope, Alabama ā DollyBFitness, BFitLifestyles, and Stokes…
February 8, 2017 Columns by Cathy Chester Create a Self-Care Plan to Use During Challenging Times Americans are feeling more anxious than ever. Itās not politics as usual, but politics as unusual. People who never were politically active find themselves raising their voices to make a difference. In the MS community, raising our voices is not something new.
June 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Rehab Clinical Practice Guideline Help Patients Achieve Excellent Results Two case reports from the Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation CentersĀ presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2016 Annual MeetingĀ demonstrated how a multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical practice guideline for rehabilitation was implemented through the rehab path, highlighting the importance of consistency of practice and continuity of care for…
January 18, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc MS Research Brought New Insights into Disease Triggers and Potential Therapies in 2015 The Multiple Sclerosis Society of CanadaĀ recently published a report documenting and summarizing the most important developments in multiple sclerosis (MS) research during 2015. In early 2015, a Society-funded clinical trial was initiated toĀ study the potential abilities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat MS. The MEsenchymal Stem cell therapy…
December 16, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Physical Therapy in Need of Proper Study, Experts Say The National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ announced that a panel of expertsĀ led a comprehensive review of 142 published studies addressing rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS), and found evidence suggesting that weekly in-home or outpatient physical therapy offers benefits ā but, mostly, it found a lack of well-designed studies into…
September 30, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Provides Update on Wellness for Multiple Sclerosis Patients According to the National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ (NMSS), a high priority for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is to achieve an overall feeling of well-being, or “wellness.” Increasingly, peopleĀ with the disease want to know how can they feel their best, and if lifestyle interventions can affect the course of their…
April 7, 2015 News by admin Wellness for People with MS Outlined in New Paper From the National MS Society The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society recently released a recent paper on wellness titled “Wellness for People with MS: What do we know about Diet, Exercise and Mood And what do we still need to learn?“ The paper focuses on how wellness can be achieved by…
March 16, 2015 News by admin Can Emotional Health Influence MS Treatment Outcomes? Emotional health is important when battling any illness, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite this, sometimes the benefits of emotional health are overlooked by healthcare providers. Excessive stress can lead to anxiety and depression, which increases hormones such as adrenalin and glucocorticoids that shut down the immune system. Glucocorticoids have…
September 29, 2014 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Kessler Study Recommends Wellness Program for Multiple Sclerosis In today’s healthcare environment, it is often not enough that patients are provided with the latest treatments. Good health is not merely the absence of injury or disease, but overall wellness that includes mental, spiritual and social health. A group of investigators from the Kessler Foundation…