Holistic | MS

Exercise,
Angela Angus, MFHT, and Deborah Richardson, MFHT, talk about the benefits of complementary therapies and exercise for people affected by multiple sclerosis

What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The nerve fibres of the CNS are protected by a substance known as myelin. In a person with MS (PwMS), this myelin becomes damaged, which disrupts messages being transferred from the brain to the rest of the body and can impact on various movements and activities. Symptoms may include mobility problems, spasticity, pain, impaired vision, incontinence, impaired sexual function, slurred speech, fatigue, or cognitive dysfunction (memory and reasoning difficulties). However, while symptoms are unpredictable and vary from person to person, few will experience all of the symptoms. The condition is often characterised by periods of remission when symptoms improve, and relapse when symptoms reappear or worsen. MS is usually progressive with a steady worsening of symptoms around 15 to 20 years after onset. MS is not terminal most PwMS have the same life expectancy as someone without the condition. However, they will need to cope with, and manage, their symptoms for life.

ounded in 1964, Multiple Sclerosis Research and Relief Fund (MSRRF) is a charity that aims to provide information and services to help those affected by MS understand and cope with the condition. Based at a dedicated centre in Morpeth, Northumberland, the charity has outreach provision in Hexham, Durham, Lemington, Easington, Jarrow, Berwick and at Walkergate Park Hospital. The services available at each centre vary, but most offer some form of complementary therapy service or exercise classes, or both.

Complementary therapies at MSRRF

Deborah and I are employed as full-time therapists and fitness instructors at the Morpeth centre. A further 24 self-employed therapists cover the charitys outreach services and there are six bank therapy staff. All the therapies we offer at the MSRRF aim to help our service users physically, mentally and/or emotionally. Reflexology is particularly popular, as it can be beneficial for bowel and bladder problems, both of which are very common and distressing for people with MS (PwMS). It is also an easy therapy to adapt for wheelchair users, and it is not uncommon for the therapist to sit on the floor if the person with MS is unable to transfer onto a couch or bed. Another popular therapy is sports massage, as muscular problems are also common in PwMS. Deep tissue work, connective tissue release and various other sports massage techniques are all very beneficial and used mainly on the arms, legs and back, which are the most commonly affected areas. Two other major symptoms of MS are leg spasticity and circulation disorders of the extremities, and its very rewarding to see immediate results when performing massage. We tailor each therapy to meet the
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Services offered by MSRRF

l Complementary therapy service, including Swedish body massage, Indian head massage, sports massage, hot stone massage, reiki, crystal therapy, reflexology and lymphatic drainage massage. l Exercise sessions/classes. l A grant service, to help individuals and groups fund items or services that fall outside the scope of statutory bodies. l A rt and craft classes. l The charity also provides the carers of people with MS access to exercise and therapy services, giving them some respite so that they are more able to support their family member.
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Issue 94 October 2010

MS | Holistic

therapies and MS
Case study
After a long period of tests one of our service users was diagnosed with MS. Her initial symptoms were severe vertigo, falling over, pain in the right side of her head and sickness. She had a long absence from work, but eventually returned with the aid of a wheelchair. She had resigned herself to always being a wheelchair user. On a visit to the Sanderson Centre (Newcastle) for physiotherapy, she was told about the benefits of exercise for people with MS. She continued to attend weekly sessions, which gave her the confidence to gradually use her wheelchair less. It was around that time that she heard about the MSRRF and she attended exercise and therapy sessions at our Morpeth centre. We began by tailoring a therapy and exercise programme to her needs. She attended for three consecutive weekly massages after which she was given a three-week exercise programme of Vibrogym training, a 20-minute strengthening and stretching session, followed by 30 minutes on the toning tables. She was encouraged to try different therapies and started to see a marked improvement in her mood and circulation after massage, and found reflexology and Indian head massage very relaxing and beneficial in their own right. However, full body massage and sports massage made the biggest impact on her physically. We asked what she found most beneficial and she told us: When I found out I had MS I felt isolated, alone and unsure of the future. I have exercised all my life but going to the gym could sometimes be a problem, as staff did not seem to know much about MS. Going to MSRRF, I feel supported it is a safe environment and the staff understand my MS. I have developed a relationship with them, which makes me feel able to attend, regardless of my good or bad days. I know I can be myself and talk openly about my MS. I can reach my potential because I am not afraid to try new things. I have complete trust in the therapists and fitness instructors. The excellence of the staff and the equipment, and their commitment to every single service user really shows. The charity has progressed and developed to such a high standard, there is nowhere else quite like it. This service user now walks unaided and catches two buses to get to the centre, which shows her commitment to the management of her MS. She has a positive outlook and is a great example of how complementary therapies, exercise and support have helped her to manage her MS symptoms. This lady is 72 and, five years on, still attends the centre every week.

Top: Angela giving reiki to help with fatigue Above: Deborah helping a service user to operate a toning chair. Angela is using the hoist to assist the service user from her wheelchair to a toning chair individual needs of our service users, as symptoms vary considerably. For example, we may do a deep tissue back massage for muscular problems, incorporating Indian head massage for relaxation and lymphatic drainage for physical signs of oedema, all in a one-hour treatment.

10 minutes in order to prevent fatigue. A high percentage of our users get relief from their symptoms when they exercise many benefit from stress relief, fewer or shorter relapses, or simply enjoy the feeling of being in control of their symptoms.

Working with others

The charity tries to work with like-minded organisations on research projects. Our most recent partnership is with the Percy Hedley Foundation, which has set up a conductive education programme to help people with MS improve their mobility and communication. Through conductive education, each service user has the potential to increase the control they have over their movements. The programme promotes self-esteem and confidence, and enables service users to improve their quality of life.

Exercise and MS
Research suggests that exercise can help PwMS to stay active and manage a range of symptoms, from balance difficulties, to bowel problems and depression. Exercise can also help to reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and weight gain. The charity offers exercise classes and equipment, including yoga, pilates, toning beds and chairs, wobble boards and exercise balls. We also have a Vibrogym, equipment that vibrates the body, working most of the bodys muscles at the same time. In PwMS, the Vibrogym can help to strengthen muscle mass, improve flexibility and well-being and relax leg spasms. A typical workout is only
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that accessing the services at MSRRF makes a real difference. I greatly enjoy working one-to-one, particularly when giving complementary therapies. I enjoy the connection with someone who really benefits from massage or reflexology. Deborah also finds it incredibly rewarding when people leave the centre looking more relaxed and happier than when they arrived and although the job can be physically and emotionally challenging, we both love our work and wouldnt want to do anything else. We, and other MSRRF therapists, have found that perhaps the biggest benefit of the charity is the development of a positive and supportive relationship between the service user and us, the therapists. Our service users feel we are here for them, even if it is just for a reassuring chat.

Working with people affected by MS

Meeting new service users who are finding their MS hard to cope with is the hardest and most demanding part of our work, but it is very rewarding when you see
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Useful websites
www.ms-researchandrelief.org www.mssociety.org.uk www.percyhedley.org.uk www.nhs.uk/conditions

Issue 94 October 2010

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