• MS is described as an inflammatory demyelinating condition, causing the individual to experience symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness, and/or balance issues.
• As lesions occur in the CNS,  neural pathways are knocked out, and the individual notices a gradual decline of function.
• When there are only a few lesions, the CNS is extremely good at regeneration and compensation. However, if the process continues, these compensatory mechanisms get overwhelmed and progressive disability occurs.

• MS typically affects people in their 20's and 30's, but no age is immune.
• Women are more commonly affected than men.

• Adequate sun exposure, and Vitamin D supplementation, offers the potential for prevention of MS in family members, and a reduction in new lesions. Supplementation with essential fatty acids and B vitamins may be helpful for brain health.
• A very low saturated fat diet provides about a 95% reduction in relapse rate, with stability being achieved at about 3-5 years on the diet.
• Exercise has many benefits for health and wellbeing, and seems likely to positively affect the progression of MS.

The Value of Exercise

There is now good evidence that MS exercise improves fitness and function in mild MS and maintains function for people with moderate to severe disability.

Exercise has been shown to be helpful in reducing inflammation associated with MS.

There is strong evidence that exercise therapy, including aerobic exercise and resistance training, improves muscle power function, exercise tolerance functions and mobility-related activities such as walking in people with significant disability.

Walking distances has been shown to be beneficial; 20-30 minutes, 5 times a week, preferably outdoors (where sun exposure can simultaneously be optimized).

Researchers note it is important to realize that MS recovery is a lifelong change, not a temporary one. Recovering from MS is possible but it takes time.  Read more details