Exercise Can Improve MS Functioning

by Gregg Robinson

Much is known about the benefits of exercise for people with MS. There is increasing evidence that many types of exercise, from stretching to aerobic conditioning to strength exercises, can be extremely helpful. In addition to these well documented areas, there are many benefits to an approach involving continuing movement of muscle groups affected by MS.

Fred Baker is a Seattle licensed massage therapist who has worked with many people with MS, often on a volunteer basis. He believes strongly in the therapeutic value of a continuing movement exercise program. People who follow such a program have a good chance to "maintain the status quo and possibly even improve" their condition, he says. He emphasizes that "the word exercise does not mean some strenuous workout; it simply means movement in this case."

Baker further describes this process. "Some of the people that I work with are asked to do simple movements such as the tailgate exercise. This is simply sitting on some surface that is high enough to allow the lower legs to swing. When a person who has lost a portion of control of their legs is able to swing their legs in a circle, sideways and forward and back with some control, this means that the brain and muscles are in some kind of communication." Baker calls this communication "keeping the nerve pathways open." Rather than using the more common Swedish massage, his work with MS clients involves neuromuscular techniques designed to enhance communication between the brain and the muscles. "In my experience," Baker reports, "neuromuscular modalities are more efficient and have a longer lasting result." He describes the experience of one of his clients who was having trouble walking up steps. "We decided to try to get some different muscles working to help pick the leg up," he explains. "My client said, 'I could feel my brain working when I was trying to move my hip.'"

The MSA's hydrotherapy and yoga programs, known for their strengthening and flexibility components, also provide benefits from ongoing muscle movement, according to class members. "Water exercise keeps me walking," says Randi Ryan. "The more you move, the better able you are to keep moving." Mabel Stark is equally affirmative. "My rheumatologist says I probably wouldn't be walking today if it wasn't for hydrotherapy," she says. Yoga students report that the weekly stretching component of their classes helps maintain or even improve balance, and reduces spasticity.

Balance is a serious and frequent problem for people with MS. Fred Baker studied Tai Chi and believes that this Chinese martial art and its focus on balance has much to offer people with MS. He uses the principle of "determining the center" of the body in his work. "To help the MS client regain some of their balance, we learn how to get the energy located in the 'center' instead of in the head," he said.

Another approach which Baker uses involves recalling pre-MS muscle functioning. He learned this technique from Meir Schneider, who operates a self-healing clinic in San Francisco and uses many different methods to increase sensory awareness. "Schneider teaches an exercise of walking forward, backwards and sideways to stimulate the brain. If this is practiced, most people find that their walking will improve and their balance will get better," Baker said.

Baker draws from several other related approaches in his work with MS clients, including muscle energy, Biosomatics, Sensory Magnetic Technique, and Passive Positional Muscle Release Technique. "All of these treatment modalities are useful and effective," Baker said, "but the direction is to help the patient maintain and/or recover movement capabilities."

Baker, an enthusiastic and gregarious man, offers several "success stories" in support of his treatment approaches. His clients have regained enough muscle control to walk indoors without a cane, negotiate steps, work in their garden, and learn to play the drums. The more adventurous among them have even competed in a triathlon and gone sky diving. Even someone without use of his lower extremities was able to increase his upper body strength and flexion capacity to the point of picking himself up with the use of a trapeze attached to his bed.

Baker stresses the importance of perseverance in a continuing movement program. "It has been my experience that the people who don't 'give up' seem to be more happy and are able to control their muscles for an extended period of time," Baker said.

To continue and expand his work, Baker is in the process of creating a non-profit foundation to enlist and pay more massage therapists to work with MS clients. For more information, Baker may be contacted at Myotherapy Northwest, 206-542-4187.

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