Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that significant health benefits are obtainable for persons with disability who engage in physical activity, recommending 30 to 40 minutes of daily, moderately intense activity. However, persons with MS are frequently physically inactive, with findings of a 6-month activity reduction rate of 6%. This progressive lessoning of physical activity over time is a major contributor to worsening of symptoms and ancillary medical complications such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and impaired bone health, underpinning the importance of exercise and physical activity by persons with MS. In addition to its effect on endurance and body composition, exercise may also reduce disease activity in MS. A regular exercise program combining exercise and physical activity that is tailored to the patient’s individual condition should be an important part of the plan of care for patients with MS.