A series of short films aimed at encouraging people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to exercise, and which were developed by MS physiotherapist Rachel Flinn, have received an accolade at the annual patient information awards of the British Medical Association (BMA).
Ms Flinn, the MS Society’s only fully employed physiotherapist and based at the charity’s purpose-built resource centre in Belfast, said: ‘Last December I was involved in making five short videos to show some ideas for exercises for the five main symptoms of MS – fatigue, spasms, balance, cognition and continence.
‘The videos were highly commended and we were invited to an awards ceremony in London, coming runner-up in the long-term conditions section.’
The videos are aimed at the whole MS population. They feature patients being interviewed on how exercise has benefited them, and demonstrating simple seated and standing exercises in their homes.
‘The idea was to reach out to people with MS who weren’t exercising to show them they can still exercise at home without having to go to the gym,’ said Ms Flinn.
‘Receiving an award was quite a surprise,’ she added. ‘It was really nice for the MS Society to get recognition from the BMA.’
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