In fact, most won't. But many can benefit from rehabilitative services. Physical therapy is important to help restore movement and function, using stretching and range of motion exercises, gait training, and assistive devices such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Spasticity can be decreased with physical therapy. For people with less serious forms of MS, a home exercise program can help maintain long-term independence.
Occupational therapy focuses on activities of daily living that involve the arms and hands.
An OT works with patients on dressing, eating, and writing and can recommend assistive devices to help with these activities. An OT can prescribe exercises to develop fine coordination or to help compensate for tremors or weakness. Speech therapy can help with the difficulties with communication and eating that some patients experience. Brainstem lesions are the source of motor and sensory problems of the tongue and oral and facial musculature. For those with intractable aspiration, feeding by gastrostomy tube is required.