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Exercise and MS

Regular, moderate exercise is now recognised as an important element in maintaining general health and well being.

There is no right or wrong exercise. However, the nature of MS may mean that you have to be more aware of what you can achieve than someone who doesn't have MS. If you have concerns about undertaking certain activities, talk to a relevant health professional (eg a neurologist, GP, MS specialist nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist) beforehand.

You have to learn to listen to your own body and to be honest with what it is telling you. As recovery time can be longer for someone with MS, be prepared to stop before your body tells you have reached your limit.

"Don't give up, the endorphins released during exercise give a feel good factor better than pain killers! Be pleased with what you can do, however little it may seem."
Josephine, Kenley

Exercises for people with MS

General exercises for People with MS


This section contains a full range of exercises developed in partnership with a specialist neuro-physioptherapist Liz Betts.

  • • They are suitable for people of all abilities
  • • There are exercises starting from a sitting, standing, kneeling or lying position
  • • There are exercises that can help with specific issues like balance, posture, and strength.
  • • They can be downloaded individually as a pdf with an explanation of how to do them, or you can watch the demonstration on the website.

If you are just starting, or coming back to exercise after a break, check our introductions to:

View or download the exercises here

Why not take a look at Staying Active - Information on a range of sporting activities and links to key organisations

With thanks to:

  • • Liz Betts, MS specialist physiotherapist, who in conjunction with the MS Trust wrote the original version of Exercises for people with MS and designed the exercises
  • • Wendy Hendrie, MS specialist physiotherapist, and the Therapists in MS group for their work on posture
  • • The people with MS whose comments have helped shape these pages
Exercises for people with MS

Core Stability Exercises (a pilates type approach)


MS can affect balance and mobility in a number of ways, causing difficulty with everyday activities such as carrying a drink while walking, climbing stairs or maintaining balance while reaching.

What is core stability?

One element of balance is the ability to maintain a steady trunk whilst moving a limb. When we reach out an arm or take a step to walk, our nervous system switches on our muscles in a specific order, with trunk muscles contracting before limb muscles. This stabilises the body, ensuring that we are not pulled off balance by the moving arm or leg. This trunk steadiness is commonly known as 'core stability'. Training programmes, such as Pilates, exercise the 'core' muscles in a precise controlled manner with the aim of improving trunk stability.

  • • It is important to discuss the best approach to using these exercises with your physiotherapist before you start.
  • • Together you can develop a programme for your needs.
  • • You can then download the exercises to produce a programme to do at home.
  • • And follow your exercise session with a relaxation session
Download the Core Stability Exercises (PDF 8Mb)

These exercises are reproduced from a research study supported and facilitated by TiMS (Therapists in MS), with funding from the MS Trust. Read more about the research study

With thanks to:

  • • Dr Jenny Freeman, Reader in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, and Margaret Gear, Neurophysiotherapist, who led the research on behalf of Therapists in MS Research Group
  • • All the people with MS who took part in the study.

Move it for MS, the fun way to exercise with Mr Motivator and a group of people with MS.


  • • Suitable for people of all abilities
  • • Exercises to improve balance
  • • Exercises for a complete workout without leaving your living room
  • • And follow your exercise session with a relaxation session
Rather have the exercises on DVD? No problem, you can purchase it from us for £1 buy now

With thanks to:

  • • Mr Motivator
  • • All the people with MS who took part in the DVD

Relaxation

Sometimes it's great just to relax.

Vicki Matthews MS Specialist nurse has created two relaxing, calming session for you to enjoy. One session is an audio file that you can either listen to online or download as an MP3 file, for your MP3 player. The second relaxing session is the below video clip.

Download Vicki Matthews MS Specialist nurse, Relaxation sound clip
Please right click and select "save as", to save the file to your computer.