What are some tips for training a client who has MS?

MS has many different faces, and you may find them all in one client at different points in time.

I try to treat all my clients as ‘normal’ as possible, and people with MS are not different in that respect. I do an assessment and decide on a program and its progression based on it.

One general precaution with MS is to be concerned about overheating; however, people with MS are usually well aware of it. Even when people have a ‘mild case’ of MS, balance is a concern, and I would recommend to keep that in mind when doing standing exercises. Have something nearby for support, and avoid exercises that require sudden changes in direction.

Also: be mindful that a program for a month may need to be altered as conditions change. Flare-ups can occur without warning, and falls are often the result.

As a MELT instructor, I have been invited to give a demo at an education event for the local chapter of the MS Society in October. I have observed that the MELT Foot Treatment can greatly improve the sense of grounding. In conjunction with the improved alignment using the other MELT techniques with the roller, people suffering from MS can greatly improve their body sense and thereby gain greater confidence in their body.

The complete MELT techniques may be unknown to you but I would urge you to check out the MELT Foot Treatment.