How Physical Therapy Has Helped Strengthen My Body with MS

In an April 2023 six-month follow-up appointment, I told my MS specialist that I wished to improve my strength, balance and coordination. Even though taking Ampyra improved my leg strength and endurance, I wanted to get my whole body strengthened, stay on my feet longer, and feel safer doing so. My doctor immediately set up a physical therapy (PT) order.

When I met my PTs, I told them the same thing, so they devised a program to have me do a lot of vestibular work and strength training. First, I'll describe the vestibular work we did.

Taming vertigo and calming inner ears

I've had BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) on and off for years. There are crystals inside the inner ear that can get knocked out of place, causing room-spinning vertigo by simply turning over in bed or looking up.

My lead PT first induced vertigo and nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) and then performed the Epley maneuver to stop it. At my next session, she asked me how my dizziness was and repeated the maneuver since I said I had a short episode of vertigo. Now I have no more episodes!

Finding my center on shaky ground

And to further engage my vestibular system, one of the most challenging exercises was stepping onto a 6-inch-thick squishy cushion, and with my feet close together, trying to maintain my balance. It was hard not to weave back and forth and grab a railing in front of me. Using my breathing to help, I soon settled into a relaxed, very still stance, but the real test came next.

I had to close my eyes and maintain my balance! That was much harder. My PT spotted me through all of this, so I was never in danger of falling. I greatly improved throughout that first month, as well as on tapping the top of a narrow cone with the tips of my shoes, alternating between them as fast as I could without toppling the cone.

Stair-walking without holding onto railings, rapid hall-walking and then, on command, making a 180-degree turn and stopping - these exercises also helped my MS-related dizziness and balance problems.

Pushing limits and amazing the pros with strength training

Strength training was the other part of my PT program. In a seated position, I rested a 10-lb free weight on each shoulder, then stood up and sat down 8 times. Next, I rested a 12-lb free weight on each shoulder and pressed them straight up and down 8 times. I amazed my PT guy! He insisted we were running out of hand weights, and he’d have to take me to the main workout room and get creative!

To further challenge my balance and coordination: I walked an obstacle course and stepped over hurdles of varying heights. My instructions changed often: lead with only the right foot between hurdles and lead only with the left; now, try taking only one step between each hurdle. Another change-up: after completing the obstacle course going one way, walk backwards until reaching the starting point!

I also walked sideways with an exercise band around both ankles. This provides resistance while taking wide steps. Walking forward: take “skating” steps, moving each leg as though ice-skating.

Life beyond medication

After PT ended, I felt much more confident, stronger, and more in control of myself. Medication had not been enough to manage my MS symptoms. Physical therapy was the gateway to becoming more active each day, while also being safer. I’m writing this a full year after PT, and I’m still feeling strong without doing any home exercises!

If you’ve never experienced physical therapy, I urge you to talk to your neurologist about whether it might benefit you. And do feel free to ask questions about what I’ve posted.

Also, if you’ve already had physical therapy, I would love it if you’d share your experiences in the comments section below!