Fitness and leisure
Moderate exercise is now recognised as an important element in maintaining general health and well being, however a survey by the MS Trust in 2004 found that almost half (48%) of people with MS do not exercise on a regular basis.
The symptoms of MS may make some activities difficult or require a different approach, but there are organisations offering information on all manner of activities from competitive sports through to more leisurely pursuits. The following links give just a few ideas of what is available.
MS Trust links
- Staying active section
- A section of this website that includes contact details for organisations involved with more than 30 activities both team sports and those for individual competitors; a Tried & Tested section of personal experiences from people with MS of a number of sports; a selection of links to more leisurely activities such as gardening and photography; and general information about fitness for people with MS.
- Exercises for people with MS
- A book of simple exercises, written by a physiotherapist.
Articles from Open Door
The following links are to recent articles from Open Door, the MS Trust's quarterly newsletter, that deal with particular leisure activities.
- The Italian job
- In March 2006, Ken Dickson won a Paralympic silver medal with the GB wheelchair curling team.
- Hippotherapy - a new movement experience
- A physiotherapist and several people with MS talk about the benefits and enjoyment of hippotherapy (therapeutic horse riding).
- Belly dancing a therapeutic tool – or just a belly laugh?
- A physiotherapist takes a novel approach to exercise with a group at her local MS Therapy Centre.
