Can Physical Therapy Work on Body Balance Issue? Expert Guide on Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune (a condition in which the body’s natural system attacks normal body cells), which results in chronic inflammation, neuronal loss, gliosis, and demyelination. This disease can be relapsing-remitting or continuous. Primarily, it is a disease that occurs due to malfunctioning of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Lesions in this disease do not develop at a time. They develop at different places and times in CNS. Due to this, multiple sclerosis is also referred to as a “disseminated in time and space” disease. The medical treatment of this disease is different for its different stages ranging from rapidly developing to chronic disease.

Ways to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis (MS):

Doctors use a diagnostic technique known as a differential diagnosis in which they start with a complete check-up and examine the medical history of the patient. The doctor may order the following tests for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis:

• Blood Tests: Doctors recommend blood tests to rule out another disease that has similar symptoms to multiple sclerosis. Specific tests for checking biomarkers that occur due to MS are under development, which can help in diagnosis in the future.
• Spinal Tapping: In this test, a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from your spin to check any irregularities in antibodies that may result from MS. Spinal tapping also aids in eliminating other diseases and infections with similar symptoms to MS.
• Evoked Potential Test: In this test, electric signals of the nervous system as a result of stimuli are recorded. It may be visual or electrical stimuli. During this test, small electrical electrodes are applied to your arms or legs nerves or see a visual moving pattern on the screen. This test shows how quickly information travels through your nerves.
• MRI: MRI can help to locate the exact location of lesions in your brain or spinal cord. Doctors may give you an injection of intravenous material to highlight active lesion areas in your brain or spinal cord.

In many people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the diagnosis is simple and based on the signs and symptoms of diseases that are consistent and permanent. It can be easily diagnosed with brain imaging scans such as MRI.

Treatment Techniques for Treating Signs and Symptoms of MS:

The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary in every MS patient. Doctors use different treatment methods to treat MS. Some of them are the following:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help to reduce and manage problems that arise as a result of MS. Your physical therapist can help you to learn specific muscle strengthening exercises that will help you to perform everyday activities in a good way. They also teach the use of mobility aid devices like a wheelchair to support your body.
• Muscle Relaxants: Multiple sclerosis patients may feel pain, spasm, and muscle stiffness in the legs. Doctors can prescribe muscle relaxants like tizanidine (Zanaflex), baclofen (Lioresal, Gablofen), and cyclobenzaprine to reduce pain and stiffness in muscles. Another best treatment for spasticity is Onabotulinumtoxina.
• Medication for Fatigue reduction: many medicines like Amantadine (Gocovri, Osmolex), modafinil (Provigil), and methylphenidate (Ritalin) can help MS patients to reduce fatigue that is caused by MS. Doctors may recommend some drugs that reduce depression.
• Medications for Improving Walk Speed: MS patients may feel difficulty in walking due to weak leg muscles. Doctors may recommend drugs like Dalfampridine (Ampyra) that help to slightly increase walk speed. Patients with kidney problems or Seizure history should avoid it.
• Other Medications and Treatment: Many other medications and treatments can be recommended to treat insomnia, depression, pain, sexual dysfunction, and bladder and bowel control problems that can occur as a result of multiple sclerosis.

Why Choose Physical Therapy to Treat Multiple Sclerosis?

Physical therapy can help MS patients to reduce pain symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Your physical therapists can teach and suggest specific exercises to improve the strength of your muscles, body balance, coordination, and gait.

Physical therapy treatment also involves stretches to improve and maintain mobility and reduce leg muscle spasms associated with MS. It also includes training on how patients can use mobility devices like a cane, or wheelchair to walk easily.

Physical therapy can also be helpful in treating symptoms in the early stages of MS. It can aid you to:

• Improve strength and Stamina
• Retain your strength and abilities after the disease
• Improve relapse
• Prevent symptoms to get worse
• Cope with body changes

A conversation with your physical therapist can help you to understand what changes can happen in your body as the disease will make progresses. Getting help from a physical therapist can help you to understand these changes and teach you how you can maintain and improve a healthy lifestyle.

Role of Physical Therapy at Different Messages:

Physical therapy treatment can be useful for all types of MS and can help to treat signs and symptoms at all stages.

At Diagnosis:

When you visit your doctor for a diagnosis of MS, it is important to see a physical therapist. A physical therapist will examine all signs and symptoms of your body and test your strength and ability. Your doctor will discuss your physical limitations and understand which exercise treatment plan is best suitable for you.

After the initial diagnosis, you don’t need to visit a physical therapist again. But it is better to seek help from a physical therapist if you are at the advanced aggressive and progressive stage of multiple sclerosis.

During Relapse:

During the relapse period, the signs and symptoms of MS are worse and more severe. At this stage, the patient feels limited to do everyday tasks and activities like

• Working
• Walking
• Bathing
• Cooking

A physical therapist can help you to know about the changes that are happening in your body and how you can reduce these changes. After the relapse period, the physical therapist can help you to restore and regain your physical abilities to perform daily activities.

At Progressive Multiple Sclerosis:

At primary progressive multiple sclerosis, patients may not experience relapse. If a person is diagnosed with this type of MS, the physical therapist can help. A physical therapist can teach you how you can compensate for the changes in your body that will happen at this stage. They can also help you to learn to use mobility aid devices to help you walk.

At Advanced Multiple Sclerosis:

Patients that are at the advanced stage of multiple sclerosis may have severe signs and symptoms of MS. Usually, at this stage, the patient may not be able to move without the help of someone. They are at high risk of other diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. Physical therapy treatment can help you to use mobility aid devices properly, strengthen the upper body and sit properly.

Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies to Improve MS:

Changes in lifestyle and some home remedies can help to improve signs and symptoms of MS. The MS patients should try to:

• Eat a balanced diet: Healthy diet routine can help to improve your health and reduce signs and symptoms of MS. Some research shows that Vitamin D has potential benefits for MS patients.
• Exercise: Patients who have mild to moderate MS can regularly exercise to improve their strength, muscle spasm, balance, and coordination. They can do walking, running, stretching, bicycling, etc. patients also can do swimming or other water exercises.
• Cool Down: In some people, the symptoms of MS get worse when their body temperature increases. Avoiding heat and the use of cooling devices like vests can help to maintain temperature.
• Relieve Stress: In many cases, it is observed that stress and depression can worsen the signs and symptoms of MS. Stress-relieving techniques like yoga, massage, meditation, and tai chi can help to reduce stress.
• Take Proper Sleep and Rest: Make sure you are taking enough possible sleep. If you have any sleep disorder, you should visit the doctor to treat it so that you can get proper sleep and rest.

Final Verdict:

Each patient suffering from MS has different signs and symptoms. But one thing that is common in all patients is that it affects the movement of at least one body part. Patients might experience pain, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty in walking.

Physical therapy can help to retain stability and treat problems associated with MS. Select the best suitable and expert physical therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Can the private therapist help in the recovery of Multiple sclerosis?If there is no known solution for the problem, it tends to be effectively controlled with clinical administration and restoration. Physical specialists assist patients with MS recovery and keep up with strength, adaptability, and general wellness, and to live dynamic, useful lives.

How might non-intrusive treatment help in the improvement of personal satisfaction related to multiple sclerosis?Those with MS who were all genuinely dynamic announced lower potential, weakness, and torment. It brings the chances of higher social gathering and self-adequacy for overseeing MS, lower misery, exhaustion, and torment, and higher social assistance for hidden MS.

What do neurological physical specialists do?Neurological Physical Therapy envelope specific thorough assessment and treatment of people. They provide ways at the time when MS development issues become higher, and there is a higher chance of infection or injury of the sensory system.

What is the best and recommended prognosis for multiple sclerosis?However, the symptoms might emerge from serious MS, like chest or bladder diseases or gulping challenges. The normal future for a patient with MS is around 5 to 10 years below the norm.