Multiple Sclerosis
What is it?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an acquired neurological disease in which the body mistakenly attacks its own immune system and damages the fatty material (called myelin) that surrounds our nerves. Myelin is important for protecting and insulating our nerves so that electrical messages are able to be sent from the brain to the rest of the body quickly. When the myelin breaks down, it exposes patches of nerves which render the nerves unable to communicate properly. This results in a large range of symptoms that can include loss of physical function.
Numbness or weakness of one or more limbs, tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait, fatigue, pain, bladder and bowel issues, spasticity, vision problems and changes in emotion are some of the very common symptoms of MS.
What causes Multiple Sclerosis (MS?)
The cause of MS is unknown. It is considered an autoimmune disease (because the bodies immune system attacks its own tissues). A combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to MS developing in some people and not in others. Risk factors that could increase your risk of MS involve age, sex (women more than men), family history, certain infections (like Epstein-Barr), race (white people highest risk), low levels of Vitamin D, certain autoimmune diseases and smoking.
How can Enhance motion help those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS?)
There is no cure for MS. Treatment for MS involves speeding recovery from relapses which can be aided by medications as well as building muscle strength and easing some of the symptoms of MS which is where our therapists come in. A physiotherapist, occupational therapist and/or exercise physiologist can help you to stretch out and strengthen weak muscles, help manage gait problems and pacing management strategies which are often associated with MS. Manual therapy can also be applied to help ease and manage some of the symptoms of MS.
Information from msaustralia.org.au, ms.org.au, mayoclinic.org