How A Functional Approach to Physical Therapy Can Help Treat Multiple Sclerosis
Through exercise, education, and a whole-person approach, we’ll help you relieve your symptoms
If you’re struggling with symptoms like persistent fatigue, difficulty walking, or muscle spasms, there’s a chance you might have multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition that affects around 2.1 million people worldwide. The physical therapists at Integrity Rehab in Leander, Salado, Temple, Burleson, Harker Heights, Killeen, and Copperas Cove can help you manage your symptoms, improving your overall quality of life.
Multiple sclerosis results from the loss of myelin, which protects and insulates nerve fibers in the body, leading to issues with vision, balance, and other bodily functions. It’s typically first diagnosed in young adults between 20 and 40, although it can develop at any age.
There’s no cure for multiple sclerosis, but physical therapy at Integrity Rehab can play an important role in helping you regain strength and flexibility, leading to improved fitness and the chance to live a happy, active life. If you want to learn more about how the experts at Integrity Rehab can help you find relief for your multiple sclerosis symptoms, schedule an appointment with us today!
What are the effects of multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis can manifest differently from person to person. It’s an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune system attacks otherwise healthy body parts as foreign objects. In the case of multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the nervous system. The disruption in the body’s nerves caused by these attacks leads to multiple sclerosis symptoms.
The exact symptoms of multiple sclerosis will vary based on which parts of the nervous system were attacked. However, the vast majority of people with multiple sclerosis will have difficulty with walking or other body movements, and many people also report issues with vision, such as double vision.
In addition to difficulty with movement and balance, you may experience some of the following symptoms as well:
- Fatigue that doesn’t go even after you’ve rested
- Chronic pain or headaches
- Muscle stiffness or spasms
- Bladder or bowel incontinence
- Sexual dysfunction
- Cognitive issues, including short-term memory loss or difficulty concentrating
- Emotional issues, including depression or anxiety
You may experience periods of acute symptoms followed by periods of remission, or your symptoms may gradually get worse over time, depending on the type of multiple sclerosis you have.
The role of physical therapy in treating multiple sclerosis
Physical therapy, particularly a functional medicine approach to physical therapy, is significant in helping people with multiple sclerosis manage their symptoms and return to the day-to-day activities they love.
One of the most essential things our physical therapists will help you with is exercise. An exercise program appropriate to your needs is a safe, effective means of rehabilitation and has multiple benefits for people with multiple sclerosis, including benefits related to mood and overall quality of life. Here are some ways the therapists at Integrity Rehab will help you start exercising:
- Strength and aerobic training. Strength training will help you maintain bone and muscle mass, and aerobic exercise can help reduce fatigue. A dedicated workout program that includes both strength and aerobic exercises will go a long way toward improving your quality of life.
- Aquatic exercise. If land-based exercise is too difficult, working out in the water offers the same benefits without the added joint strain. Plus, being in the water aids in relaxation!
- A focus on balance. In addition to exercise in general, our therapists will work with you on activities designed to improve balance and posture, helping to reduce your risk of falling.
- Gait rehabilitation. Because multiple sclerosis dramatically impacts walking, gait rehabilitation is integral to your physical therapy program. We’ll assess your gait and help correct any imbalance that, if left untreated, could result in a wildly asymmetrical walking or movement pattern.
If you’ve recently received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, reach out to Integrity Rehab in Leander, Salado, Temple, Burleson, Harker Heights, Killeen, or Copperas Cove right away! The sooner you begin physical therapy, the more likely you are to slow down the progression of the condition’s symptoms. Even in the early stages, you’re likely to experience changes in how you walk, balance, and breathe, and physical therapy at Integrity Rehab can help you better manage those changes.
What to expect with physical therapy at Integrity Rehab
The goal of physical therapy at Integrity Rehab is to help you gain better functionality in your everyday life. That’s why your initial session will consist of a detailed examination to help us understand your specific physical impairments, activity limitations, and overall goals. While a physical exam will be part of the process, we also want a sense of which activities are important to you so we can help you better achieve them.
Once we know more about your particular needs, we’ll work with you to develop a detailed, customized treatment plan centered around your goals and limitations. Your treatment will be exercise-focused, but what that looks like specifical will be determined by your needs and interests.
Schedule an appointment with Integrity Rehab today!
If you’re struggling with multiple sclerosis symptoms, don’t delay in reaching out to us at Integrity Rehab! We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve what’s important to you.
Schedule an appointment with Integrity Rehab today!