Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects more than 100,000 people in the UK alone. It is an autoimmune condition which affects the brain and spinal cord, also known as the central nervous system (CNS); it causes the immune system to attack the myelin sheath, a substance that covers the nerves and protects them, and helps to carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It can sometimes damage the nerve fibres too. This damage to the myelin sheath and nerves causes scarring, known as plaques or lesions, which either slows down, distorts or stops the messages going to the rest of the body. The symptoms vary from person to person depending on where has been affected in the CNS.
Some physical symptoms include:
- reduced sensation
- muscle weakness
- low and high muscle tone
- difficulty with balance and co-ordination (ataxia)
- difficulty walking
- tremors
- musculoskeletal pain (from compensating and moving in different ways due other MS symptoms)
Many of these symptoms can be managed in various ways, including exercise and physiotherapy, and for some the wearing of sensory dynamic compression (SDO) garments, medication and lifestyle adjustments.
SDO® (sensory dynamic orthosis) is a custom made-to-measure Lycra® product, designed and produced to the finest detail to provide dynamic compression to increase sensory and proprioceptive feedback and provide musculoskeletal support. This garment can assist and lead to motor learning and neural integration. The SDO® can be used for the management of conditions with sensory deficit, low or high tone, hypermobility etc including MS but also can be used for patients with CP, ABI, Cerebellar Ataxia, Stroke and EDS etc. The evidence gathered through research and individual case studies have shown that wearing a made-to-measure Lycra® garment leads to an improvement in function. This is thought to be due to the stimulation of the somatosensory system through the proprioceptors of the skin and musculoskeletal system leading to changes in tone; postural re-alignment, improved biomechanical advantage for muscle activation and enhancement of learning strategies.
On our website, you can find out more about how dynamic compression garments from Jobskin can help people with MS to manage the symptoms of the condition.