The latest research in exercise for MS with Dr Robert Motl | S6E18

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. Today we’re thrilled to welcome Dr Robert Motl as our guest! Dr Motl is a professor of kinesiology, nutrition and rehabilitation sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He’s a top researcher in the field of exercise and physical activity for people living with MS and, in this fascinating episode, he talks to Overcoming MS facilitator Veronique Gauthier-Simmons about how much exercise is recommended for people with MS, the differences between lifestyle physical activity and structured exercise, and he explains how exercise works within the brain to slow MS progression. We learnt so much from Dr Motl, and hope it helps you kick start a new phase in your relationship with physical activity. Let us know what you think!

 

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.

 

Topics and Timestamps:

02:09 Overview of Dr Motl’s research lab and team

03:21 Dr Motl’s interest in multiple sclerosis

05:57 Key findings over the years of the benefits of exercise for people with MS

09:32 Lifestyle physical activity vs. structured exercise for people with MS

15:03 How much exercise is recommended for people with MS?

17:39 Exercise as a disease modifying behavior

20:28 What part of the disease progression does exercise help?

22:12 Exercise’s effects on the brain

25:50 Who benefits the most from exercise?

28:42 Social prescribing of exercise for people with MS

31:16 Exercise’s effects on mood for people with MS

34:54 How to participate in future studies

36:16 The benefits of a holistic approach to MS management

 

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis?  Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.

More info and links:

• Learn more about Veronique Gauthier-Simmons
• Learn more about Dr Motl’s Exercise Neurology Reseach Laboratory
• New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
• Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub
• Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

Don’t miss out: 

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

 

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation here.