Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major health issue facing society today. It has affected more than 2.5 million people worldwide, including 400,000 Americans. MS is a serious chronic disease of the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS) that can render a person disabled. It usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40 years with an average onset of around 30. MS is proven to affect more women than men. Multiple sclerosis is thought to be an autoimmune disease. In MS, genetic factors and environmental factors are thought to be causes of the disease, such as, infections. MS is more common in colder climates, suggesting that geography may somehow influence a person's chance of developing it. The health profession that may be able to assist with this health issue is physical therapy to help with tightness, pain, and weakness in the muscles and joints.
             Physical therapy cannot cure the primary symptoms of MS, but the therapy can enable the patient to compensate for the changes brought about by this disease. The therapy can also be very helpful at lessening and even stopping the secondary symptoms. Treatments in physical therapy often can be completed in one to three office visits. The first appointment includes an evaluation and recommendations for exercises. The following appointments check the patient's progress and review and expand their home program. Often, MS is active on the nerve fibers that control muscle movement. Many people with MS lose muscular strength in the arms and legs as the disease progresses. The loss can range from reduced dexterity to paralysis of an arm or leg (www.nmss.org).
             This is where I feel like physical therapy plays a vital role because it gives the patients hope and courage to go on with their every day lives. I feel that physical therapy will be very helpful because it would keep the patient's muscles loose and able to have some range of motion. Without movem
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