Just What the Physical Therapist Ordered: Four Activities for People with MS

While individualization is key when it comes to designing physical therapy regimens for people with MS, Mandy Rohrig, DPT, MSCS, says there are four types of activities that – with their healthcare provider’s approval and appropriate assistance, if needed – can benefit virtually all people living with MS. Dr. Rohrig explains that those activities involve:

Posture Awareness
“Shoulder blade squeezes and chin tucks can be performed sitting or standing,” the physical therapist notes.

Sit-to-Stand Exercises
“I’m a huge proponent of supporting the ability to get in and out of a chair, even if you do require assistance. It’s really important to keep the muscles involved active,” she adds. For these and other types of exercises, readers may visit cando-ms.org/exercises to access a series of “MS Moves” videos.

Calf Stretches
“For people who are ambulatory, calf tightness can cause balance issues and shuffling when walking, both of which increase fall risk. People who use wheelchairs can experience calf tightening because they aren’t using their legs to walk, but they too, can do simple calf stretches a few times a day.”

Deep Breathing
“This one is beneficial for all people,” Dr. Rohrig says, explaining that taking time each day to engage in deep breathing can preserve lung capacity and help with energy management.

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