yoga

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Exercise for people with chronic pain.

Smithsonian Yoga ManuscriptExercise if good for you!  Well yes we all know that but how do you take exercise when you suffer from chronic pain?  This blog will give you a few tips and pointers on  how to get fitter and not increase your pain at the same time.

Exercise promotes general good health as well as weight loss which are important for people suffering from chronic medical conditions.

The key principle to keep in mind is that you want your activity to be “low impact”. This means that it will not harm your joints.  This is vitally important for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis.  It also means that you are less likely to suffer from an ankle sprain or cartilage tear.

So what are some good types of low impact exercise which can be easily carried out by people who suffer from chronic or acute pain?  Well here are a few:-

a)      Walking.  Pretty obvious and easy.  All you need to do ii to step out of your front door.  Oh yes and you don’t have to spend all that money of gym fees.  Doctors often recommend a 20 minute walking session 5-6 times a week.

b)      Yoga.  This ancient Indian system of exercise is great for core strength and helps improve balance. It is often used by people with multiple sclerosis. We recently discussed this in a blog which you can read here  https://patienttalk.org/?p=571

c)       Cycling.  Becoming more popular each year cycling is a great way to get fit and to do a bit of two wheeled sightseeing.  You might think about cycling to work. A helmet is very much recommended especially if you live in London!  See https://patienttalk.org/?p=109 for more information.

d)      Pilates.  Developed in the early years of the last century Pilates is great for back pain as it helps strengthen the spine as well as improve  muscle strength.

e)      Swimming.  This low impact sport is great for both people with mobility issues and for those who suffer from obesity. You might also want to consider water aerobics.

f)       Gardening.  A bit of relaxed gardening is great way of dealing with stress and taking exercise at the same time.

 

It is worth mentioning that you should speak with a healthcare professional before embarking on any type of exercise regime.

Finally – what have we missed out?  Please do use the comments box below to share with your fellow readers the kinds of exercise which have worked for you. Any links would be great as well.

Thanks in advance!

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Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis – does it help?

Smithsonian Yoga ManuscriptOne of the things that surprised me when I first got involved with the multiple sclerosis community was the popularity of yoga as a form of exercise for people with MS.

Indeed one of the first multiple sclerosis blogs I wrote focused on yoga and multiple sclerosis.  My fascination with the subject has remained to this day.  And it is not just me. If you Google “yoga and multiple sclerosis” you will find loads of articles on the subject.

So why another one I hear you cry!

Well really this is an opportunity to give a “Cook’s Tour” of the subjects and at the same time give our readers the opportunity to share their experiences and suggestions for exercising if you have multiple sclerosis.

Firstly what actually is yoga?  Very simply it is a combination of physical and breathing exercises that  originated in ancient India.  Even today many practice yoga as part of the Hindu and other religions.  In non-Asian countries yoga is, however, used more for health purposes and it is this side of the equation we will be focusing upon.

Yoga being a low impact system of exercise through posture means that it has wide beneficial effects for health and for people with various medical conditions.

Outside the sphere of multiple sclerosis yoga is a great way of reducing blood pressure because of the gentle nature of the exercise.  It also has been credited with improvements in mental health and, indeed, the elimination of depression specifically.  Edward McAuley suggests in his article “The Acute Effects of Yoga on Executive Function” that it may have beneficial effects on cognitive functioning and thus brain fog.

With its emphasis on relaxation yoga is an excellent form of exercise for people with multiple sclerosis.  It also helps with fatigue as yoga helps improve sleep routine.

Perhaps most importantly for people with multiple sclerosis the stretching of muscles improves their strength and indirectly their balance.

Those of course are the benefits.  There are some interesting resources online and you may want to check out Garth McLean’s story about how he treats MS with yoga http://yogarth.com/yoga-and-ms/.  Garth makes it clear that while yoga is not a cure it has helped with his RRMS symptoms.

For more hands on information check out Yoga U’s page on MS. http://yogauonline.com/yogatherapy/yoga-for-ms.  It has a few very useful videos for you to watch.

Finally we would love your feedback.

  • Have you ever done yoga?
  • Have you ever used it as part of MS therapy?  How successful was yoga in helping your symptoms?
  • Do you have any links to MS and yoga resources you can share?
  • Are there any other exercise regimes you would suggest for people with MS?

 

Please use our comments box below to share your thoughts about yoga and multiple sclerosis.

Many thanks in advance.

4 Comments Posted on Patient Talk

10 great ways to beat stress

Modern life seems full work stress especially in today’s uncertain economic climate.  That is why stressbusterPatientTalk.Org is bringing you ten great ways to help you eliminate stress from your life.

a)      Eat blueberries.  True!  The Vitamin C is a great stress buster as well as being an all-round super food.  How about a bowl with your breakfast!

b)      Get down to the gym.  Exercise is not just good for your health it can kick stress’s butt!  Why not give yoga or pilates a whirl?

c)       More sleep.  What not get into bed an hour earlier?

d)      Laugh more.  Why not rent a great comedy or just spend time with friends and family outside!

e)      Meditation.  Getting recommended by Doctors at lot!

f)       Try massage.  A great way to get those muscles loose.

g)      Dogs.  Combine exercise and friendship with a dog.     Why not get a dog from a shelter and give it a good home?

h)      Counselling.  If things are getting on top of you why not seek a professional who can help!

i)        Cut out alcohol and tobacco.  While they may work in the short term they can add to your stress with regular use!

j)        Herbal tea!  Why not switch your coffee for camomile tea and see if it helps your stress?

Do you have any stress busters you use which we have not mentioned here?  If so please tell us about them using the comment box below?  If you have tried any of the above ideas why not let us know how they work.