- Exercise programs must be designed to stimulate working muscles, but at the same time avoid overload and overheating, which can block nerve conduction.
- Stretching and range-of-motion exercises are important because they can relieve muscle spasticity.
- Pool exercises are particularly helpful. Water supports the body, and cool water dissipates heat.
- Specific exercises that strengthen and increase the endurance of muscles that control breathing functions may be helpful. However, it is unclear if such exercises reduce lung complications over the long-term.
- Gradually, patients may be able to build up to more complex exercise programs.
Cooling Methods
Body overheating causes demyelinated nerves to function less efficiently than usual. Although this effect is resolved within a few hours of regaining normal body temperature, active cooling can help reduce fatigue and improve stability. The following measures may be helpful:
- Use air conditioners in the summer
- Keep the home slightly cool in winter
- Avoid swimming in heated pools
- A portable helmet that uses cold liquid to cool the head and neck and therefore lower core body temperatures may help MS symptoms during daily activities
- Cooling suits are being investigated
Prevention of Influenza
MS symptoms worsen during a cold or the flu, probably because of increased immune system activity. Experts recommend that patients with MS receive a flu shot in the fall. However, experts warn that patients should not take the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine (FluMist Intranasal). Unlike the flu injection vaccine, which uses an inactivated virus, FluMist contains a live virus. Live virus vaccinations may be harmful for people with MS, especially those who take immune-suppressing drugs.
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