As Barras Paralelas da BOOMFIT são o complemento certo para um treino intenso e versátil, que traz dinamismo aos...
How to create a workout plan for athletes with Multiple Sclerosis?
You may have already met athletes with illnesses of a very different incapacitating nature. And this can become a challenge, mainly due to a lack of knowledge or skills to provide adapted workouts for athletes with pathologies that affect their daily lives.
We've already mentioned here on the blog that every athlete is unique and has different goals, so a workout plan cannot be applied to everyone in the same way... especially when you're dealing with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
This is exactly the disease we're going to talk about today.
Today, December 4th, is National MS Day in Portugal. MS is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system, particularly the myelin, a protective layer that supplies and protects the extensions of neurons, allowing them to quickly pass impulses. The immune system considers myelin to be a strange organism in the body and orders the defences to attack it. Symptoms are not the same in all people with MS and depend on the areas of the nervous system affected, which can evolve over time. However, the most common symptoms include fatigue, numbness, muscle spasms and stiffness, vision problems, hearing loss, speech difficulties, tremors or depression.
Although there are no concrete numbers, in Portugal it is estimated that there are more than 8,000 people with MS, while in the world, according to data from the World Health Organisation, there are close to 3 million people.
Unfortunately, MS has no cure. However, the combination of pharmacological therapy and the adoption of healthy lifestyles can help (a lot!) to improve quality of life.
Here at BOOMFIT, our mission is to make sports more accessible by offering quality equipment and accessories at a fair price. Part of our mission is also to help our Community of Professionals to integrate workout plans capable of meeting all the needs of those who seek them out. That's why we're sharing some tips for creating a workout programme for a person with MS.
TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Always include a health professional in the plan!
We would never doubt your experience and dedication as a dedicated personal trainer to your athletes. But sometimes we need to listen to professionals from other fields of expertise! A workout plan is a commitment between you and your athlete. But in the case of a person with MS, there must be a third party: a specialised health professional. Within the existing symptom picture, it is necessary to evaluate how a workout plan can improve the athlete's daily life, what the limitations are and in what way the symptoms manifest themselves. Everyone must clearly and constantly communicate, workout plans must be reviewed regularly and the health professional's opinion must always be taken into account.
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Set realistic goals
MS is a limiting condition, and some athletes may come to you to find a way to reduce their symptoms. However, try to set goals that are in line with the advice given by the health professional, reviewing them regularly as the symptoms progress or decrease. The person with MS, considering how he/she feels, may think that it will be much more difficult to do the exercises and stick to the plan. That's why your role will mainly be to encourage the athlete, to be understanding and to show him/her that results don't come overnight, but rather gradually. You should also promote a consistent plan over time.
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The four main points of the plan
When you're setting out the exercises for a workout plan for an athlete with MS, you need to pay attention to the exercises you choose. After asking a qualified health professional for their opinion, you should outline the plan with four main areas in mind: aerobic exercise; strength and endurance; stretching and flexibility; and, finally, balance. The plan should include a total daily time of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, according to the US Centre on Physical Activity and Disability.
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Combine the workout programme with non-conventional therapies
Although pharmacological therapy is part of the right approach, combining a well-designed workout plan with other non-conventional therapies can help improve the quality of life of a person with MS. These therapies (many of which are not even considered therapies, but rather lifestyle and behavioural changes) can help promote physical, emotional and psychological well-being, resulting in a holistic approach to the individual. Low-impact activities such as yoga, tai-chi or reiki are part of this approach and can help improve your athletes' state of mind.
Final thoughts
Regular exercise by an athlete with MS will pay off, not least because several studies show that the activity will improve motor functions and help reduce the effects of the disease on the central nervous system. As a promoter of a workout plan adapted to people with MS, you'll see a gradual improvement in the athlete's exercise performance, as well as greater endurance.
Nevertheless, we emphasise that the workout plan for a person with MS should be designed together with a health professional the athlete trusts, and his/her opinion should always be taken into account. MS is a non-curable disease that accompanies your athlete's entire life: your job will be to help improve his/her life, and you must understand his/her limitations and difficulties.
It's up to you help choose the best exercises. But at BOOMFIT, we want to help you by providing the best equipment so that you too can help your athletes achieve their goals.
Our team is always available: just send us a message and we'll give you the help you need to make the right, conscious purchases. Notre équipe est toujours disponible: il suffit de nous envoyer un message pour obtenir l'aide dont tu as besoin afin de faire les bons achats de manière consciente.
Have a good workout!
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