Are you sitting comfortably...? Posture and MS
Wendy Hendrie, physiotherapist, Norfolk
Open Door - August 2009 page 7
If you look at people in general when they are sitting down, many will be slumped or leaning heavily on one side. After a period of time the body will send out signals that this posture is causing pain or discomfort and the person will move into a new position before any damage is done. This is often done unconsciously.
If you are a person with MS, however, many of those systems which inform the body that damage is being done may not be working properly and you may not get the signals and sensations that tell you it is time to alter your position. Also, some people with MS may not be able to change their position independently.
As a result, poor positions may be held for long periods of time and could lead to a number of preventable complications, such as pressure ulcers, tight muscles and painful joints. It may also make some symptoms of MS worse such as spasticity and spasms. As well as medical implications, some positions may leave people feeling unbalanced in their chair and have an impact on daily life by making everyday activities such as brushing the hair or eating, difficult or impossible.
A good sitting position is one where the person feels safe and balanced, can do everyday tasks comfortably and is doing the least amount of damage to their body. If someone is spending most of their day sitting down, taking a few minutes at the start of the day and at regular intervals to check the position of the body may help to minimise any damage. Changing position of the body and limbs regularly can help to keep the spine flexible and reduce pain.
Some of the damage from poor posture, such as pressure ulcers, can happen quickly, though damage can also accrue very slowly over time. If left unchecked these changes can add to the problems caused by MS. By knowing about the problems and how to keep them to a minimum, people with MS, and the people providing care, can take control of this aspect of their health care and as a result reduce some of these very debilitating yet preventable complications.
New book on posture
Physiotherapist Wendy Hendrie and the Therapist in MS group have been working with the MS Trust to put together a book on posture for anyone with MS who spends most or their day sitting down.
The book Are you sitting comfortably..? looks at the effects of posture and suggests simple changes to help people to keep themselves healthy by achieving as good a posture as possible.
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Open Door articles are reproduced as published. They are not updated to take account of subsequent developments. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information in any article.