Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease which currently has no cure.
In the case of MS, the body’s immune system attacks and damages the protective layer of cells in the spinal cord and brain.
Symptoms may vary as this will depend on where the damage has occurred in the central nervous system and how severe it is. However, some of the common symptoms include: fatigue, unexplained pain or muscle cramps, numbness, weakness, sight problems and issues with balance.
Further information and support can be found via MS UK and MS Society
The abstract linked below is from a clinical study to determine the effect of reflexology on pain, fatigue and quality of life in MS patients. The intervention group in the study received 3 sessions of reflexology a week for 12 weeks and it was found that "In the intervention group, significant decreases were observed in the pain scores from the seventh week and in the fatigue scores from the fifth week”.
It concluded that "The study indicates that reflexology can be used as a complementary and alternative therapy to reduce pain and fatigue and enhance quality of life in MS patients."
Dilek Doğan Hatice; Tan Mehtap
Altern Ther Health Med 2021 AT6133
References for this blog:
MS UK (date anon) What is MS. Available at: https://ms-uk.org/what-is-ms/ (Accessed 14 March 2025)
NHS UK (Aug 2024) Multiple Sclerosis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/ (Accessed 14 March 2025)