Doing specially-designed physical activity or exercise can benefit people living with MND. Exercise can help you maintain your strength, mobility, and overall wellbeing for longer.
Exercises should be supervised by healthcare professionals who know about MND. In most cases this would be physiotherapist. They will make sure you're doing the right exercises at the right intensity for you. This way you can exercise within your limits, avoiding fatigue and muscle soreness.
A physiotherapist will work with you to come up with an exercise plan. An exercise plan ensures that the exercises are tailored to your ability, and your needs. Your exercise plan will be reviewed and changed as your needs change. In most cases, an exercise plan will cover the following:
Physical activity is good for your body, your mind and your overall quality of life. Specially designed exercises under the guidance of experts can help you in the following ways:
Exercising with MND can present many challenges. Some of the challenges you might encounter are:
To overcome these challenges, talk with a physiotherapist with experience in MND, or your healthcare team. They can assist you explore what's available and what's best for you.
You can also check with your MND advisor or coordinator to see if your Aged Care or NDIS package could help cover the cost of this support. If you have health insurance, check with your fund about what they cover.
Call the MND Info Line at 1800 777 175 will automatically connect you to your local MND Association. Your local MND Association knows about MND and are there to assist individuals and families affected by MND.
Read our factsheet on Physical activity and MND
You can also call the MND Info Line on 1800 777 175 to get in touch with your state's MND Association