Wellness practices 

Defining wellness practices 

Wellness practices can be defined as a variety of practices that anyone can do, regardless of MS, to help maintain physical and mental wellbeing. Exercise, eating a healthy diet and mental health care are all important components of general wellness practices, as are limiting alcohol, not smoking and maintaining healthy sleep habits. Unlike many complementary therapies, wellness practices can often be done at home without the support of a practitioner. 

Each person with MS will have a different experience of which wellness practices work for them. Some wellness practices may need to be adapted to your personal needs. 

Exercise  

Exercise can improve your quality of life and slow down the progression of MS. It’s a myth that exercise can trigger MS relapses. In fact, sport and exercise can improve wellness at every stage of MS. Strength training, cardiovascular training and mobility exercises can improve your quality of life and help you to do everyday tasks. Symptoms such as fatigue, balance disorders, muscle weakness, and tight or stiff muscles (spasticity) can be helped by regular training. Exercise also supports the immune system by encouraging the body to reduce inflammation.  

It’s important to adapt the type and intensity of exercise to your MS and fitness level. Sometimes, people try harder than they should to prove to themselves or others what they can do. It is important to listen to your body. 

Download Wellness practices and complementary therapies in MS to learn more about the following forms of exercise: Cardiovascular training, Balance training, Strength training, Pilates and Yoga 

Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is important for general health. Moreover, gut health can directly affect our metabolism, hormone production and immune system. The connections between digestion and chronic diseases are not fully understood. However, it’s suspected that diet can influence MS symptoms. 

Eating a healthy diet means having freshly prepared, varied meals with lots of fibre, fruit and vegetables. Unsaturated fatty acids and natural sources of vitamin D and vitamin B12 are important, as well as calcium (found in eggs, dairy and meat, for example). Having enough fluid (about 2 litres of water daily) is important too. You should avoid alcohol, processed sugar and processed food products, or consume only a small amount.  

Some forms of dieting aid weight loss and improve general health. However, be aware that radical diets can weaken the body and be an extra burden. Diet pills that bind nutrients or have a laxative effect are dangerous. They can affect the absorption of medicines and important nutrients.  

A nutritionist or dietician can give you professional advice to help you to plan your diet optimally and integrate it into your everyday life. They’ll teach you about how nutrition, digestion and symptoms are interlinked and give you tips on adjustments to make to your diet. 

Relaxation Techniques 

Relaxation in itself is not therapy, but with relaxation techniques you can positively influence the course of your MS and its symptoms and reduce stress. Relaxation is not only mental — it’s also physical. When we relax, our breathing slows, muscle tone decreases, and stress hormones are reduced. This can relieve tension and has been proven to help chronic pain. Relaxation also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular, immune, nervous and digestive systems. 

The effectiveness of relaxation has been proven, but how well each relaxation technique works varies from person to person. You’ll need to work out what’s most beneficial for you. 

Download Wellness practices and complementary therapies in MS to learn more about the following relaxation techniques: Imagination, Mindfulness-based stress reduction, Meditation, Music & art therapy, Qi gong & tai chi 

Consulting your healthcare team 

Wellness practices should be used alongside standard therapies for MS. No wellness practice or complementary therapy should be used instead of treatment with DMTs.  

If you’re thinking of trying new wellness practices, you should consult your qualified healthcare team first. Managing your MS usually means working with a group of different healthcare specialists. Your qualified healthcare team is likely to include a neurologist, a general practitioner, an MS nurse, rehabilitation specialists (for example, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist), mental health specialists (for example, a psychologist, mental health social worker, or psychiatrist) and a pharmacist. 

Download ‘Wellness practices and complementary therapies in MS’ to learn more about some of the practices people with MS may consider using alongside their standard treatment.