NCPAD:Videos: Exercise for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Before starting any exercise program, please consult with your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to exercise.
Muscular strength, flexibility and conditioning exercises are important components of any well balanced exercise program. These exercises are geared to increase the strength of our muscles, increase joint range of motion and improve cardiovascular functioning. In this first of a four-part series, we will highlight some key exercises, which can enable you to efficiently perform and enjoy our daily tasks and activities.

In this series we feature stretching and strengthening exercises for people with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Myelin, the fatty material surrounding the nerves, is destroyed, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness or paralysis, spasticity or tremors, incoordination or impaired balance, heat sensitivity and fatigue.
In addition to improving overall health, cardiovascular fitness, range of motion, and flexibility, exercise can help one increase energy, improve balance, manage spasticity, decrease muscle atrophy, and better perform activities of daily living.

This exercise will strengthen your abdominal area and will improve your posture and balance.

This flexibility exercise will stretch your lower back muscles and decrease tightness in your back muscles.

This strength exercise will strengthen your hip muscles and will assist with walking.

This flexibility exercise will improve your range of motion in your upper body and lower back muscles as you "rock" through the entire exercise.

This exercise will strengthen your hip and side muscles that assist with balance and walking.

This exercise will improve flexibility and range of motion in your shoulder muscles.

This exercise will strengthen your upper leg and buttocks muscles that assist with sitting, standing, pelvic stability and walking.

This exercise will strengthen your lower back muscles, assisting with posture.

This exercise strengthens your lower back muscles, which assist with posture and walking.

This fact sheet was last updated on 02-04-2005.

Videos: Exercise for People with Multiple Sclerosis - Series II