Way One of the first people to campaign for using exercise as a way to treat MS was Jimmie Heuga, a US Olympic skiing champion who was diagnosed with MS in the 1970s. He balked at being inactive and developed an exercise regimen that kept him flexible, strong, and motivated. Later he founded the nonprofit Jimmie Heuga Center in Edwards, Colorado, to help others supplement their MS medications with exercise and an active lifestyle. So far, about 3,000 people with MS have participated in Heuga's programs in the United States and Canada. George Garmany, a neurologist who helps Heuga educate other MS patients about exercise, says a big benefit of staying active is that it shows MS patients that they can still live healthy lives and learn to manage their symptoms.
Exercise also calms their fears of the future.
Unpredictable Disease Progressive yet unpredictable, MS destroys the myelin sheath that insulates and protects nerves, thus interfering with signals the brain sends to the body. MS typically attacks a variety of areas within the central nervous system, causing symptoms that include extreme fatigue, blurred vision, numbness, lack of coordination, impaired bowel and bladder function, and many others. Nobody knows the cause of MS, and there is no cure, although new and more potent drugs and therapies are constantly emerging. The most important of these therapies so far appears to be a regular exercise routine. Exercise helps them continue to have a good life.