Lo scopo di questo blog è raccogliere, in un unico contenitore, le esperienze di quanti come me (affetti da sclerosi multipla) hanno benefici di vario tipo a seguito di nuotate al mare o in piscina. E’ diverso tempo che ho osservato, su di me, un beneficio clamoroso (seppur temporaneo) a seguito di nuotate molto intense. Nel mio caso per raggiungere il massimo beneficio devo raggiungere un certo affanno e nuotare per almeno 15-20 minuti con intensità. Tale pratica a me sembra agevolata dall’acqua fredda, tuttavia io stesso e altri malati con cui ho avuto modo di confrontarmi, abbiamo sperimentato il medesimo beneficio anche nelle acque riscaldate di una piscina.
Ovviamente ciò è possibile perché cerco di mantenermi allenato e mantenere un minimo di abilità nel nuoto stile libero. Invito pertanto chi volesse provare questo esperimento a farlo con un periodo di preparazione e preferibilmente in un ambiente protetto (una piscina) e con l’aiuto –ove possibile- di un istruttore. Nel mio caso mi è possibile nuotare con la sola spinta delle braccia, mentre le gambe sono tenute a galla da un galleggiante (pull buoy).
Dopo il nuoto è opportuno praticare qualche minuto di stretching e rilassamento. E’ altresì opportuno asciugarsi bene dopo il bagno e trovarsi in un ambiente caldo (al sole o in locale riscaldato).
Invito quanti vedano il mio esperimento su youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoeaU-iinww) a non rischiare in nessun caso gesti atletici eccessivi per la propria preparazione e condizione fisica.
Raccogliere diverse testimonianze, con eventuali variabili soggettive, può essere utile al fine di documentare l’esperienza e portare all’interesse del mondo medico un tassello che reputo molto rilevante per la conoscenza della malattia. Infatti, nonostante mi sia sottoposto a tutte le principali terapie adottate per la sclerosi multipla, niente mi ha indotto un beneficio così importante e clamoroso (seppur temporaneo) come l’esperimento che vi propongo.
Aver raccolto, inoltre, diverse decine di testimonianze di altri malati con esperienze analoghe, mi fa supporre che il mio non sia un caso isolato ma un fenomeno la cui comprensione può essere di estrema utilità per molti pazienti affetti da questa patologia.
English version
The reason for this blog is to collect, in a single container, the shared experiences of people like me (who suffer from multiple sclerosis) and who found it beneficial to swim in the sea or in the swimming pool. I have noticed an exceptional benefit on my body (although temporary) as a consequence of intense swimming sessions. To reach the desired effect (in my particular case) I must swim for 15-20 minutes at high intensity and at the end reach a certain breathlessness. Cold water seems to help yet the same benefit can be achieved swimming in heated water of a swimming pool.
All of this is clearly possible because I strive to maintain myself exercised and try to maintain a minimum ability in swimming. I therefore advise whoever is keen to try this to undergo a gradual training session and be supervised and helped (where possible) by an instructor and to perform the swimming sessions in a safe area like a swimming pool. In my case, I can swim with the sole motion of my arms while the legs are kept floating by a buoy.
After swimming it is advised to stretch and relax for a few minutes. It is also important to dry one's body very well after bathing and to be in a warm place (in the sun or in a heated room). I strongly advise whoever sees my video on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoeaU-iinww) to avoid risking any extreme athletic performances which are beyond their physical condition.
My aim is to collect evidence from different people, with possible subjective variables. This will be useful to document the experience and create interest in the medical field. The experiment has the potential of becoming an extremely relevant puzzle piece for studies on this Multiple Sclerosis. I have to confess that amongst all treatments and therapies I have undergone, this swimming experiment has been by far the most beneficial and exceptional one (although temporary), so please try it too.
The collection of evidence from a number of other people affected by the same sickness and who find the same benefit I do, demonstrates that mine is not an isolated case. It is one that can become of extreme utility, globally, to thousands of patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
English version
The reason for this blog is to collect, in a single container, the shared experiences of people like me (who suffer from multiple sclerosis) and who found it beneficial to swim in the sea or in the swimming pool. I have noticed an exceptional benefit on my body (although temporary) as a consequence of intense swimming sessions. To reach the desired effect (in my particular case) I must swim for 15-20 minutes at high intensity and at the end reach a certain breathlessness. Cold water seems to help yet the same benefit can be achieved swimming in heated water of a swimming pool.
All of this is clearly possible because I strive to maintain myself exercised and try to maintain a minimum ability in swimming. I therefore advise whoever is keen to try this to undergo a gradual training session and be supervised and helped (where possible) by an instructor and to perform the swimming sessions in a safe area like a swimming pool. In my case, I can swim with the sole motion of my arms while the legs are kept floating by a buoy.
After swimming it is advised to stretch and relax for a few minutes. It is also important to dry one's body very well after bathing and to be in a warm place (in the sun or in a heated room). I strongly advise whoever sees my video on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoeaU-iinww) to avoid risking any extreme athletic performances which are beyond their physical condition.
My aim is to collect evidence from different people, with possible subjective variables. This will be useful to document the experience and create interest in the medical field. The experiment has the potential of becoming an extremely relevant puzzle piece for studies on this Multiple Sclerosis. I have to confess that amongst all treatments and therapies I have undergone, this swimming experiment has been by far the most beneficial and exceptional one (although temporary), so please try it too.
The collection of evidence from a number of other people affected by the same sickness and who find the same benefit I do, demonstrates that mine is not an isolated case. It is one that can become of extreme utility, globally, to thousands of patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
