Walking (and other luxuries) – Part 2
Today I wanted to continue comment on walking-as-therapy for recovery. Previously I wrote that I have commenced a program of walking most days of the week, using Austrian hiking poles (sometimes called Nordic poles or more generically trekking poles). These are essentially ultra-light ski poles. I imagine that, like bicycles, the more you pay the lighter they are … and if you’re walking any distance or, like me, walking isn’t easy – then the lighter the better. We’re lucky in my part of the world that the sun is now shining (a bit too much on most days, which is why I walk in the late afternoons) and my poles allow me to go for longish (by my standards) walks – raising a sweat with our appreciative dogs. There are also a number of developments happening around the world into the building of muscle mass and the rewiring of the MS-lesioned-brain to overcome the effects of myelin breakdown. I’ll cover a few here today.
Firstly and fundamentally I reiterate that I follow the concept of neuroplasticity, which has gained traction in recent years to show the brain is able to make new neural pathways to overcome those that are blocked or damaged – and in that regard a recently published book I’d recommend is The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge MD. I also admire the inspirational exercise efforts of people such as Michael Forbes, Lena, Rebecca Hoover and Dr Terry Wahls.
Many other developments are occurring. For instance I see the prestigious McGill University in Canada has a Clinical Trial about to begin on the effectiveness of an “MS tailored exercise program” (MSTEP) in enhancing walking endurance. In the USA the organisation “Project Walk” which usually deals with those affected by severe spinal injuries has a Gait Training Center for Excellence the stated objective of which is to provide advanced functional gait training for people who are moving their legs or are able to walk with or without adaptive aids. In Israel glasses (that look like groovy sunglasses) have been developed to help MS people walk more effectively. They work by virtual reality, putting a black and white grid into the field of vision of the wearer, improving gait as the brain locates and places the feet in the most advantageous position for walking. With continued use the technology allegedly improves walking performance even after the glasses are taken off. On a worthwhile MS blog site called Jeff’s blog I recall reading (but can no longer find) his comment on an electrical orthotic product called Walk-Aide which provides electrical stimulation to the calf muscle on walking, thereby reputedly overcoming foot drop. A story on this particular commercial product – which incidentally was created at Canada’s University of Alberta in Edmonton – aired on a (US) ABC television program in 2008. It is AA battery-operated device about the size of an IPod. It won the US 2007 da Vinci Award, and is said to regenerate communication between the brain and body.
On a much more prosaic note, a UK invention – the MuSmart, the homemade invention of an irrepressible geo-physicist inventor – featured on a BBC-tv program as being an effective, but in this case totally mechanical, means of overcoming footdrop. The device consists of a shoulder harness and an elastic bungee cord which is connected the wearer’s shoe, and the inventor is on record as hoping it will help people with MS and other similar neurological conditions.
Please note I have no link whatsoever to any of these products and cannot vouch for their effectiveness. I merely list them as an overview of the types of developments and ideas which can or might make walking for people with MS a whole lot easier. As for me I continue to mow the lawn (which at the moment is happening too frequently, in the wet season of the subtropics). We’re on a hill, so that can be challenging – but as I’ve said to friends and professionals, the mower comes with a built-in walking frame, so it’s just a question of energy vis-a-vis MS-fatigue and heat, and sometimes breaking the task over 2 or 3 days. And of course I believe I am getting excellent recuperative benefits from those walks (of about 45 minutes) with my daughter’s 2 dogs, the young corgi and the older “intelligence-challenged” boxer. (My apologies to boxer owners everywhere who might be offended by that last hurtful and accurate comment.) 
Next time – in perhaps 2 weeks – I’m toying with the idea of writing about the links between viruses and MS – or about theories of how attitude can help healing generally – or perhaps about books I’ve read and/or would recommend. Until then, my best wishes on your own MS recovery.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Reading this, it reminds me of my early days with MS. I ended up in a wheelchair within a month of my diagnosis, way back in 1981. Flash forward to the next summer, my motto was “nothing improves walking like walking“. I went for a nice scenic walk through my neighborhood, first using the wheelchair, then pushing the wheelchair, and eventually all by myself. It can be done, especially early on with MS. What followed were sixteen years without crutches. At this point, 28 1/2 years in, I use one crutch inside, a walker outside, and a wheelchair for distances. Best of luck to you… Webster.
Thank you Webster … that’s what I scour the web for – inspirational personal stories and anecdotes such as your own. It’s excellent to know that you’ve gone against the downward MS tide. I’d encourage everyone reading this to view your interesting website … [http://hsfr.blogspot.com/]. Best regards, KB
Hey Ken
Just wondering: do the hiking poles foldup so they can be stashed away when not needed? and are they stable enough to lean on when resting?
For something a bit futuristic have you checked out what some of the r&d car manufacturer’s (surprisingly) are doing in the area of assistive walking device gizomos; this from a while back at gizmodo took my fancy: http://gizmodo.com/382522/hondas-assisted-walking-device-makes-grandma-strut-like-asimo
enjoy
Hello Sadie .. good to hear from you again, and i must post a link/referral to your website asap. The poles I use are semi-telescopic, so they fold up to I guess about half their length. My german is close to non-existent (and I don’t endorse any product) but here’s a link in german that shows the ones I have, both at length and truncated: http://www.komperdell.com/de/poles/trekking_walking/ti7_series/174_2404_10.php. Also I love the granny-mobility-belt .. am seriously impressed – as we were when we saw the Asimo robot “perform” at Disneyland on our most recent trip to the States about 2yrs ago. I recall the presenter said that for several years of “his or her” early existence Asimo the Honda robot was nothing more than a pair of legs (I have visions of the “Wrong Trousers” of Wallace & Gromit fame) as it was the locomotion/ stability/ and stair-climbing (ie leg) issues which were seen as the key priorities of a useful personal android. Obviously all the dexterous qualities are of less use if a robot can’t get from A to B! I think for people with MS the mobility belt you mention is going to be more useful and more affordable than a robot .. should we all live long enough to see either sold at the local electronics shop! All the best, KB
Hi Ken,
I am the communications manager at MS Queensland, and was given this link to your fantastic blog by one of our physiotherapists.
Have you ever thought about doing video blogging as well? I’m currently looking for more ways to promote the stories of people living with MS from all walks of life throughout Queensland on the web.
Also – would you be happy if I perhaps linked your blog from our site for people that were interested? Feel free to drop me an email if you wish to discuss this more…and for anyone else reading this post let me know if you know of other blogs like this one!
You can contact me via the page on our MS QLD website.
Thanks,
Dan Sweetman
Manager of Media and Communications
MS Australia – QLD
Hello Dan .. yes it would be great to have you link my blog to your site thanks. Hopefully it would then start (or perhaps more correctly add to) a mexican wave of people writing about how they’ve been able to keep MS at bay or, better yet, by their efforts have reversed its effects .. and the more people who might do that the better the “MS world” will be. As for video-blogging – yes I’d be broadly interested, but immodestly think I’m one of those individuals who “have a good face for radio”, so to speak.
All the best, KB
What a wonderful, intelligent and articulate blog. I found it after reading your comment on my blog (thank you very much) and I am a fan. I look forward to reading more.
Michael
Thank you Michael .. appreciated. Best wishes, KB
I have a lovely picture in mind of you walking in the outback with your ski poles (and possibly bungee cords!), also with a ski cap! It’s wonderful that you are doing so well! Are you and your readers aware of a breakthrough technology for Foot Drop that uses gentle electrical stimulation? Bioness, Inc. in Valencia, California makes a medical device that improves walking, balance, smoother gait, and greater speed over various terrains for people with Foot Drop from MS. If there comes a time when you aren’t able to keep up your wonderful regimen, do yourself a favor and check out the NESS L300 Foot Drop System at http://www.bioness.com. You’ll see Lorrie, despite MS, able to climb stairs, getting out with friends, pastimes she loves that she thought she might never be able to do again. Bless your hearts! Your unflagging perseverance and great technology may take you even farther than you hoped!
Thank you Kay. I’m in the subtropics, so not much call for ski caps! But I feel I certainly rate highly on the eccentricity scale on days when I’m in full flight along the dog park in 30 degree (85 F) temperature, with ski poles .. hee ho. I’ll check out the site you mention. I believe I did include reference to an electrical stimulation device in one of the Walking & Other Luxuries blogs, but will review it. Thanks.