Yvonne C Learmonth

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system with impaired communication between the brain and the body. Walking impairment is prevalent in MS. There is no documented evidence for improving walking agility or smoothness of movements in exercise interventions for those with MS. We report the results of a classical ballet based targeted dance program on clinical measures of balance, posture, and ataxia as well as a quantitative measure of smoothness of gait. The results demonstrate statistically significant improvements in all measures.

We begin this chapter by providing a background on multiple sclerosis (MS), its pathology and consequences, and current trends in its medical and rehabilitation management. The subsequent section highlights the commonality of physical inactivity for people with MS, followed by the benefits and promotion of active living in this population. We then introduce William, the lead character in our case study. This story provides examples of physical inactivity, barriers to and facilitators of behavior change, and beneficial outcomes that may encourage exercise adoption and maintenance in persons with MS.