Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are irresponsible for the movement of the limbs, eyes and other parts of the body. The name Myasthenia Gravis which is Latin and in Greek in origin, means “grave, serious, muscle weakness.” (ninds.nih.gov 2017). In simple terms, people that have Myasthenia Gravis have trouble contracting their muscles at a normal rate. It most commonly affects the eyes, face and a person’s ability to swallow. It can result in double vision, drooping eyelids, trouble talking and trouble walking.
People with this disease should exercise in order to help their condition and hopefully lesson or stabilize symptoms. What we are trying to achieve by exercise, is to override the loss of the ability for the individual to achieve normal rates of muscle contractions.
The central nervous system is responsible for movement. It is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. Everyone needs to move in order to maintain their ability to move. We often see older adults lose this ability. This may be attributed to a loss and strength and power and often involves balance problems. These issues can be the result of not training the central nervous system. Although the previously mentioned is not the same as having Myasthenia Gravis, it represents an illustration of the importance of training the central nervous system for all individuals. It is even more important for those with Myasthenia Gravis to exercise in order to override their limitations that are caused by the inability to contract their muscles at a normal rate. By performing specific exercises over and over again, training the central nervous system, people with Myasthenia Gravis should be able to increase the speed of their muscle contractions of their muscles below their neck. Another problem often seen in individuals that have Myasthenia Gravis, is trouble walking. These individuals have a tendency to fatigue quickly when walking due to shortness of breath. They may also experience balance problems when walking due to a decrease in the firing rate of their muscles. The exercise program should be designed to address all of these issues.
Individuals that have Myasthenia Gravis should consult with their physician before commencing with an exercise program. The exercise program should include exercises that are helpful and that can be performed safely by the individual. Consideration should be given to whether the person is able to stand when performing exercises and the implication of fatigue when exercising on a case by case basis.
References: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2017, Wikipedia, Myasthenia Gravis, lasted edited July, 2018.