Disability Pride Month Feature -The MSing Link by Dr. Gretchen Hawley

In honor of Disability Month, we spoke with Dr. Gretchen Hawley about her new book, The MSing Link: The Essential Guide to Improve Walking, Strength & Balance for People with Multiple Sclerosis. Hawley is a physical therapist, Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist, and creator of The MSIng Link, an online program offering services to help people with MS feel more confident in their strength, walking, and daily activities.  

Nearly one million people in the U.S. are currently living with multiple sclerosis. MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Some symptoms of MS can include fatigue, mobility issues, muscle spasms, and impaired coordination.

Dr. Hawley provides an action-focused guide that is all about learning how to correctly exercise with MS - particularly, through strengthening your neural pathways as well as your muscles. Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to adapt to changes. Dr. Hawley shares neuroplasticity exercises that assist with MS-related fatigue, weakness, difficulty walking, and poor balance. Therefore, readers not only understand how to gain leg and core strength and improve their balance, they also reap the benefits of a stronger mind-body connection in daily activities such as reducing falls and walking confidently on uneven surfaces. 

Living with MS can be challenging, but with the right care and support, many people live long, healthy lives. A healthy diet and exercise are integral parts of living with MS, as well as good sleep hygiene and working with MS specialists routinely. If you’re interested in Dr. Hawley’s book, read a snippet from Chapter 9 below:

Feeling motivated to find more tools to support your mental, emotional, and physical health? Try our “Getting Started” videos to help you get in the groove. 

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