Multiple Sclerosis and Normalization

In this article about Multiple Sclerosis, it was interesting to see that people who have this condition benefited dramatically from the amount of physical activity that they were involved in no matter what stage of the disease they were in. As recreation professionals we can provide low intensity cardiovascular exercise programs that will assist in the development and strengthening of the clients’ hearts, muscle structure, and mind. In conducting these exercises we must constantly be aware of the conditions that these clients are facing and be willing to cater to their individual needs in a way that projects patience and encouragement. In the article it states that as a professional you must be willing to “alter a program dependent on changes in disability status” (Benyas, 1999). This statement shows that as professionals we need to be flexible in our working with MS clients and developing their specific and unique exercise programs. In order to create a specialized program for these individuals you will first need to assess the abilities and limitations of the various people that will be participating. I would suggest that clients with various stages of the disease be separated out into different programs so that way a recreation professional can effectively work with a group that is all on the same level. First, you should start with the low intensity cardio workouts that allow for clients to develop their cardio health while decreasing their level of fatigue over time. As your group continues to gain strength then you can add various elements to the program; however, every exercise within your program depends on the willingness and ability of your participants. The underlying point of all of this therapeutic recreation is that the “engaging in more recreational and social activities” will improve the amount of energy and overall mood of people who have this disease.

Spinal cord injuries plague the lives of many people across age groups, but the active lifestyles of young and middle age adults creates some of the most strain on the body and the most opportunity for extreme injury. Since most people that suffer a spinal cord injury suffer it doing physical activity, it is of the upmost importance for recreation professionals to adequately create opportunities for these injury survivors to experience thrills in life again. There are various recreational activities that people with spinal cord injuries can still participate in, but it all depends on the severity of the injury. One activity that I believe would be beneficial for individuals who have spinal cord injuries that limit movement only in the lower half of the body is any form of wheelchair sports. Although there is diversity in the amount of wheelchair sports offered, they are extremely competitive activities that would intrigue people who are as active as those who have experienced spinal cord injuries. Activities such as basketball, hockey, and even Olympic sports can all be done by paraplegics who have suffered from a spinal cord injury. As recreation professionals we must not only make these activities available to people with spinal cord injuries, but we must be able to effectively market these activities so that they can be aware of their opportunities without having to search desperately for something that meets their needs.