Multiple sclerosis: what NINDS says physical and occupational therapy can help with
NINDS says physical therapy (PT) can help with mild spasticity and walking problems in multiple sclerosis (MS), occupational therapy (OT) can help people walk with an assistive device or in a way that saves energy, and both “can sometimes help manage fatigue.” This page quotes NINDS only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: NINDS’s Multiple Sclerosis page (last reviewed on December 17, 2025).
What MS is, in NINDS’s words
NINDS states: “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder.” And: “MS symptoms usually begin in young adults, between ages 20 and 40.” It adds: “Most people with MS have short periods of symptoms that resolve fully or partially after they appear.”
Muscles, spasticity, and walking
NINDS states: “It’s very important that people with MS stay physically active because physical inactivity can contribute to worsening stiffness, weakness, pain, fatigue, and other symptoms.” And: “Stretching and exercising muscles through water therapy, yoga, or physical therapy (PT) can help manage mild spasticity.”
On balance and walking: “Many people with MS have difficulty with balance and walking.” It states: “People with severe ataxia generally benefit from the use of a cane, walker, or other assistive device. Physical therapy (PT) can also reduce walking problems. Occupational therapy (OT) can help people learn how to walk using an assistive device or in a way that saves physical energy.”
Fatigue
NINDS states: “PT and OT can sometimes help manage fatigue. PT provides personalized treatments, while OT teaches ways to use energy wisely. They also help find the right changes in the person’s environment.” It also says: “Daily physical activity programs of mild to moderate intensity can significantly reduce fatigue, although people should avoid excessive physical activity and minimize exposure to high temperatures.”
Thinking and memory
NINDS states: “Cognitive impairment—a decline in the ability to think, learn, and remember—affects up to 75% of people with MS.” The MS page read does not name speech-language pathology or speech therapy; that statement covers only this one NINDS page.
What this page does not do
It does not repeat NINDS’s sections on disease-modifying medicines or complementary therapies. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, medicine, or product. Scope of practice for each profession is set by state law; check your state board.