


Even the most dedicated athletes can feel worn out and exhausted more easily while exercising during the dog days of summer. Persistent summer heat and humidity makes the most basic exercises feel incredibly challenging, but to people living with MS, they can feel impossible or even dangerous.
As important as it is to stay active while living with MS, it’s even more important to exercise safely. During the heat of the summer, that means taking extra precautions to ensure you break a sweat while keeping yourself safe and healthy.
Multiple sclerosis is a unique disease that affects the body’s immune response to the central nervous system. Instead of working in harmony, the immune system causes inflammation within the central nervous system, which damages the protective myelin that insulates our nerve fibers. There are several different types of MS, which are used to categorize the progression of the disease. Every type has similar symptoms, but they vary in terms of severity and frequency.
How does heat impact those living with MS differently? Heat can be dangerous for people with MS because even the slightest elevation in their core body temperature can trigger symptoms. While generally the worsening of symptoms is only temporary, it can be dangerous to experience unexpected blurred vision, sudden fatigue, numbness, and tremors if you’re out in public or alone.
As MS progresses, it often attacks nerve cells that help regulate basic functions like muscle strength and balance. To help combat this, it’s essential to strengthen the core with low-impact exercises like the bird dog, glute bridge, and standing wood chop. We love this detailed article by Health Central of the 10 best strength exercises for those with MS. They recommend aiming to do several sets of 8-10 reps of each exercise as you can.
MS can also affect your balance over time, making it difficult to move without assistance. To combat this, it is important to strengthen your arm and leg muscles and improve your balance. Exercises that can help with this include standing leg lifts, stationary lunges and exercises with chairs as demonstrated below.
To improve flexibility, strengthen muscles and avoid the heat all at once, try exercising in a pool. According to the National MS Society, water helps people with MS move in ways they may not be able to on land while keeping their body temperature cool. There are exercise routines in the water where patients with MS can focus on building endurance, strength, and flexibility, and many local gyms and fitness centers have guided classes with trained water exercise instructors.
There are several ways people with MS can minimize the risks of overheating while working out in the summer months.
It’s essential for people with MS to stay hydrated during the hot summer months. We recommend keeping your water in an insulated water bottle to ensure you always have cool water when needed, and stocking up on cold foods, such as popsicles. Eating a popsicle or crushed ice cubes can help quickly lower your body temperature.
If biologics like Rituxan, Tysabri, or Ocrevus are a part of your chronic illness treatment plan, then consider choosing IVX Health for your ongoing care needs. IVX Health makes it possible to receive your therapy in a comfortable, convenient, and private environment.
With a private suite for every patient, you can watch your favorite Netflix show or movie on the big screen TV in each room, use a laptop or other mobile device to surf the web, or simply hang out with family and friends. We always have chairs for guests, and each center has a family room that is spacious and private if you need to bring your kids to your treatment. We also offer flexible appointment scheduling – including evenings and Saturdays – at any of our convenient locations.
At IVX Health, we truly are invested in helping you live your best life. If you’re ready to experience a new kind of infusion clinic, click here to learn how to move your infusion or injection therapy to IVX Health.
IVX Health – Glenview
2601 Compass Rd, Suite 140
Glenview, IL 60026
Phone: (847) 503-0007
Fax: (312) 253-7244
IVX Health – Schaumburg
1033 E Woodfield Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (224) 803-2292
Fax: (312) 253-7244
IVX Health – San Mateo
66 Bovet Rd, Suite 105
San Mateo, CA 94402
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IVX Health – Fremont
43360 Mission Blvd, Suite 100
Fremont, CA 94539
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IVX Health – Malvern
70 E Swedesford Rd, Suite 130
Malvern, PA 19355
Fax: (844) 820-9641
Phone: (484) 318-2268
IVX Health – Bensalem
710 Rockhill Dr
Bensalem, PA 19020
Fax: (844) 820-9641
Phone: (267) 678-0184
IVX Health – Montgomeryville (Coming Soon)
640 Cowpath Rd
Lansdale, PA 19446
Fax: (844) 820-9641
Phone: (267) 678-0330
IVX Health – Overland Park
13340 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: (913) 948-2020
Fax: (844) 900-1292
IVX Health – Briarcliff
201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy, Suite 125
Kansas City, MO 64116
Phone: (816) 256-5346
Fax: (844) 900-1292
IVX Health – Lee’s Summit
3600 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Suite B
Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
Phone: (816) 272-0174
Fax: (844) 900-1292
IVX Health – Kirksville
1108 E Patterson St, Suite 10
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 431-4207
Fax: (844) 293-0979