Here’s what you should know.
March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness month. Many people have heard about MS but may not fully understand what it is or what it’s like to deal with the condition on a daily basis. Elite physical therapist, Juliana Meeker, DPT, would like to provide a closer look at MS and explain why physical therapy can help these patients move and live their lives more easily.
MS is a chronic (long-term) and usually progressive (gets worse over time) autoimmune disease that primarily affects young adults. It involves the loss of myelin, which is a material that covers and protects nerves throughout the body’s central nervous system. This protection from myelin is necessary for the nerves to transmit messages in order to communicate with one another effectively, and without it, the body can have increased difficulty with functioning “normally”. The lack of myelin on your nerves can also make you more sensitive to various inputs – which can result in feeling pain and fatigue more easily. More than 2 million people between the ages of 20-50 are diagnosed with MS each year with 2x more woman affected than men.
Many patients experience times of remission (without symptoms) and flare-ups (when symptoms return), which can make it hard for a doctor to diagnose MS. There are also 3 different types of MS: Relapsing Remitting, Secondary Progressive, and Primary Progressive. The symptoms of MS vary widely from person to person and a doctor can determine which type of MS you may have based on your individual symptoms. In the majority of patients (about 91%), MS affects the motor system, which makes it challenging to walk and perform other basic functional activities.
Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, which can go beyond movement difficulties.
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Easily fatigued or fluctuations in energy levels
- Muscle stiffness, spasms/tremors, and/or feelings of heaviness in the arms and legs
- Memory and thinking difficulties
- Pain and other abnormal sensations such as numbness and tingling
- Difficulty with speech
- Emotional fluctuations including stress, anxiety, and depression
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Bowel and bladder changes
- Clumsiness or lack of coordination
- Heart related problems
- Optic Neuritis and other eye problems
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for MS, but the disease can be controlled with medical management and focused rehabilitation that includes physical therapy. After a patient is diagnosed with MS, it can be quite beneficial to begin physical therapy as soon as possible in order to help overcome daily challenges and to learn energy conservation techniques.
“Physical therapy cannot cure primary MS symptoms and at this time, neurological damage cannot be reversed. Physical therapy, however, can be very helpful in improving strength, increasing flexibility and teaching compensatory behaviors. These techniques can enable you to counteract the physical changes brought on by MS. They include learning new movement practices, strategies and using equipment if necessary for energy conservation,” says Elite Physical Therapist, Juliana Meeker, DPT. “The right therapy can be very helpful in improving your independence and quality of life.”
Elite provides MS patients with treatments that are specifically designed to address their condition and movement issues. There are two physical therapists at Elite who specialize primarily in neurologically impaired patients with multiple sclerosis: Julia Sketo-Harrison, DPT and Juliana Meeker, DPT. These therapists will evaluate you and help to design an individualized therapy program for you.
An Elite MS Treatment Program would include:
- A complete examination to determine your areas of strength and weakness, as well as any associated impairments
- Help with Balance problems, clumsiness or poor coordination
- Assistance with functional mobility and ADL difficulties such as: getting in/out of bed, in/out of the car, walking, dressing, household tasks, etc.
- Pain relief therapies
- Stretches to prevent or ease muscle spasms
- Strengthening and range of motion exercises
- Tips to prevent falls
- Education on use of canes, crutches, scooters, wheelchairs, or other aids, if necessary.
- Strategies to save energy and reduce fatigue
- Regular exercise helps with all types of MS and all levels of ability.
Elite Physical Therapy patient, Johnny Williams Jr., is currently being treated for MS with Juliana Meeker, DPT. He has come a long way with the help of physical therapy and offers encouragement to others dealing with the illness. Johnny says, “Dwelling in a sea of illness called MS for 12 years is a roller coaster ride of mental and physical frustration. But having a great support system, physical therapist, and a positive mindset have been beneficial for my future endeavors. I must have a determination to overcome any obstacle that is presented. Being resilient enables me to push forward on a daily basis. It is not easy to persevere every day but necessary.”
“When diagnosed and dealing with MS, it can be really frustrating not having control over your body or over your symptoms. It is important to set goals for yourself and to stay motivated, but to be mindful of your limitations and to maintain your safety. We can work with you to achieve your goals all while monitoring any limitations your symptoms may create. We can come up with compensatory methods to help you to live your life and be successful”, says Juliana Meeker, DPT. “MS may not have a cure but with our help you can learn to live and battle through the challenges and provide a community of caring people who will help you battle the good days and bad days of MS.”
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with MS or have noticed any movement-related issues that suggest it may be present, our physical therapists would like to help.
Since we offer direct access, treatment can start immediately – you do not need a referral to start feeling better!
Contact Elite Physical Therapy today at 318-443-3311 for your evaluation with Juliana today!
