Q&A 178 - Truncal posture in MS

I have had MS for thirty-five years, and I’ve been in a wheelchair full time for about ten. I have had core weakness since nearly the beginning, but it has gotten markedly worse in the past year. If unsupported, I cannot sit up straight for one second. Unless I push hard with my elbows on my armrests, my body curls forward. I learned I have scoliosis a few years ago, and I know I sit crookedly in my chair. I live in a rural area, and it is very difficult for me to get regular physical therapy. There are therapists who do home visits, but of the four I have had, only one was helpful, and she is no longer available. I am wondering if you can suggest any equipment or exercises I can use to strengthen my core. Is there a wearable abdominal support I could try? I regularly do several exercises online, but they seem like too little, too late.

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Roughly a quarter of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are non-ambulatory, and for them the trunk and upper limbs rather than the legs become the principal determinant of function and safety. Axial or truncal control is nonetheless rarely assessed in clinical practice.