Changing one’s lifestyle is certainly not an easy task, but it is not impossible. The aim for most people with MS is to stay at their jobs for as long as possible. Workplace adaptations, job redesign and flexible work time are some of the possibilities that need to be explored before people with MS decide to leave their jobs. If a person does have to stop working, then it is vital for their self-esteem and well-being that they identify fulfilling and enjoyable substitute activities.
Making lifestyle changes is an undertaking for which communication and professional support are key factors for success. Accepting change requires time, and how much will depend on the individual. Support is important for guiding the person through the search for new opportunities. The process often begins by looking at the individual’s personal history – a sort of leisure and interests checklist.
Was the person athletic prior to MS? If so, in which activities? What hobbies did the person pursue prior to MS? Are there any dreams that the individual has not yet realised due to a lack of time? The answers to these and other questions form the basis for an appropriate search for new activities. There are so many leisure activities and sports available for a person with MS, with or without disability. The aim is to choose those that correspond most realistically to the interests, expectations and physical limitations of the individual.
Leisure activities
Often, a wide variety of leisure activities are available in the local community. It is a good idea to discover what is available locally and what is required for participation. Participation may depend on the person’s ability to reach the location where the activity takes place. People with MS with disabilities need to assess the accessibility of the venue when deciding on an activity that takes them out of the home.
Reading, gardening and cooking
There are a number of different tools and devices that make activities such as reading, gardening and cooking enjoyable for people with MS who experience symptoms such as upper limb weakness, mobility problems and visual difficulties. Automatic page-turners and stationary bookstands can be very helpful for reading. Large print or audio books – on cassette or compact disk – are excellent aids for people with visual difficulties. Gardening and kitchen tools with special grip handles are examples of appliances that can help the person with difficulties safely continue a pleasurable activity.
The World Wide Web provides many possibilities for anyone with access to a computer. The computer adaptations and aids now available for people with problems related to vision, fine motor and upper extremity control are practically endless. The Internet can be considered a leisure pastime for many, but also a way for some to continue working from home.
Sports
Participating in sports can have a positive effect on a person’s general health and well-being. Some sports may have to be performed in a different way with some adaptations or specific aids, but with patience and a bit of courage, almost everyone can find a sport that will fulfil his or her expectations.
Skiing in a seated position allows people with even severe disabilities to experience the thrill of this exciting sport. The four-track method assists those who have problems with balance.
Bowling combines sport and socialising with family, friends and others. As with other adaptable sports, the possibility of taking part is not conditioned by one’s level of disability, since many adaptations and aids are available.
Horse riding can be performed in a therapeutic setting, or as simple recreation. The positive effects on trunk balance and lower limb spasticity are well documented. Visit the website of The Federation of Riding for the Disabled International http://www.frdi.net/.
Wheelchair tennis can be a good substitute for those who played tennis prior to MS or as a new endeavour. The game stimulates upper limb force as well as grip strength. It also offers opportunities for socialising.
Diving is a new world for many people with MS. This type of sport is advisable only following a complete medical examination. Diving clubs for disabled people exist in many countries and many programmes have specially trained diving “buddies” to guide the fledgling diver with a disability. Regular training, either in an indoor or outdoor swimming pool, depending on the weather, is necessary. The positive effect of diving on respiratory capacity is a well-known phenomenon. The International Association for Handicapped Divers (IAHD) has focused upon providing the means for those with physical disabilities who wish to become scuba divers. Visit http://www.iahd.org/
Fitness and exercise classes can be a source of socialising, health and fun. Over the past years the construction of fitness equipment has improved so that many types are accessible for people with disabilities. See Choosing fitness: exercise and MS in this issue of MS in Focus for more information.
Sports competitions in which people with disabilities, including those with MS, can participate are now held all over the world. Individual areas of competition are typically divided in different levels, taking into account the athlete’s level of functioning. The Paralympics, an elite sporting event for athletes with a disability, offers a good example of the different types of sports accessible to people with disabilities, even at a competitive level. Visit www.paralympic.com
Conclusion
Although MS can force a person to make lifestyle changes, keeping active while incorporating individual interests and expectations remains achievable. Communication, information and acceptance of support are useful tools to guide the person through the wide variety of leisure activities and sports available. This article has explored only some of these. MS societies, websites and healthcare professionals, particularly physiotherapists, can be excellent sources of additional information on these and other activities.
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