Multiple sclerosis (MS), is a neurological disease that is thought to affect more than 100,000 people in the UK alone. The autoimmune condition affects the central nervous system, causing a wide range of symptoms. There is currently no known cure for the condition but there are many ways of helping to alleviate the symptoms, such as wearing Jobskin® SDO® (Sensory Dynamic Orthosis) garments which deliver dynamic compression.
In patients with MS, the immune system of the body attacks the myelin sheath, which is a substance that protects and covers the nerves in addition to carrying messages from the brain to other parts of the body. The condition also causes damage to nerve fibres, resulting in scarring (known as plaques or lesions) which can distort, slow down or even completely prevent messages from the brain reaching the rest of the body.
The symptoms of MS vary in incidence and severity from patient to patient and are affected by the particular part of the central nervous system affects. Classic symptoms include:
- Reduction of sensations
- Muscle weakness
- Low/high muscle tone
- Difficulties with balance and coordination
- Tremors
- Issues with walking
- Musculoskeletal pain, which is often caused by moving in different ways to compensate for other symptoms
As there is no cure for MS, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and includes things like lifestyle changes, medication, physiotherapy and targeted exercise. Wearing SDO® garments can also help: these made-to-measure medical devices are made from Lycra® and are designed to provide consistent therapeutic pressure, giving support to the musculoskeletal system and increasing sensory and proprioceptive feedback.
SDO® garments have been shown to assist with and lead to motor learning and neural integration. Many clinical studies and observations show that SDO® garments help to improve function, which is attributed to stimulation of the somatosensory system. Many benefits for MS patients have been observed, including improved biomechanical advantages for muscle activation, enhanced learning strategies, posture realignments and beneficial changes in muscle tone.
You can find out more information about how SDO® garments can benefit patients with MS by browsing the Jobskin® website. As always, you can contact our expert clinical team directly for advice and support.
Image credit: Steven HWG, 2019. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/zBsdRTHIIm4