Last Updated on November 22, 2023 by Cathy
You may have heard the word neuroplasticity when exercising. Just like your body relearning to move, your brain needs to relearn to heal.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change by concentrating and making new connections. Just like anything else you want to get better – “practice makes perfect.”
First, you need to stop seeing yourself as a victim, instead, look at what you can do to improve. A negative mind will hold you back, it upsets the body’s hormone balance depleting the feel-good hormones.
Negative thinking affects more than just your emotional health, it affects your whole immune system.
This doesn’t mean avoiding or denying any hardships instead see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. I know it’s easier said than done and it’s tough when you’ve had one setback after another – it takes time.
Positive thinking and believing in yourself can heal your mind and body.
What is neuroplasticity and how does it work?
The brain has an amazing ability to adapt. When we learn something new it creates new pathways. Our brain rewires itself to adapt to new circumstances. Just like strengthening our muscles, our brain needs repeated encouragement and stimulation.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to form new connections.
For people with MS, it’s the ability to go around the MS damage to form a new pathway. Creating new connections isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of commitment.
Turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts by changing your thinking pattern. Rewiring your brain to think positively is like learning a new language – it takes time.
I once talked about mindfulness to reduce stress which is similar to neuroplasticity. With mindfulness, you purposely pay attention to your surroundings and thoughts. With neuroplasticity, it’s the brain’s ability to purposefully adapt.
When a person uses neuroplasticity, they believe they will get better. Whether it’s their smarts or their health. Here are some ways neuroplasticity can help:
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Brain injuries
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Food sensitivities
- Going around MS damage
- Insomnia
- Memory
- Mold illness
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Skin issues (eczema, hives, rash, etc.)
- Stroke
Negative thinking leads to stress which affects our body’s natural healing process.
Here are some books for more information on neuroplasticity:
- The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
- The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge
- Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Dr. Caroline Leaf
- The Power of Neuroplasticity by Shad Helmstetter Ph.D.
Neuroplasticity and MS
MS is a neurodegenerative disease. Along with Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s disease. By using neuroplasticity it would allow the brain to adapt and reverse symptoms.
The book The Brain That Changes Itself starts off with a woman who has balance issues. Although she doesn’t have MS that feeling of falling to the floor is something MSer’s can relate to. She was able to create other pathways (neuroplasticity) to get better.
When pathways are blocked or damaged the brain has the ability to take a new path. As you concentrate on the new pathway eventually the new pathway will become the main path for your brain to take.
Here is a good video that explains how it works:
The book The Brain’s Way of Healing talks about how a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD) used neuroplasticity to control his symptoms by retraining his brain. Neuroplasticity can help with MS, PD, strokes, cerebral palsy, dementia, and autism.
Neuroplasticity is looking very promising for people with MS. According to one study, after five weeks of cognitive training, MS patients showed a “significant improvement in their neuropsychological performance.” The brain has the ability to adapt to damage caused by MS.
“Rehabilitation of motor function is a major component of MS management that is supported by neuroplasticity.” – PubMed
Retrain Your Brain to Lift Your Leg
Lifting your leg is something that is used every day. Whether it’s to walk up a step, get into bed, or step into a car. If your leg doesn’t lift, the signal from your brain to your leg isn’t working. By using neuroplasticity you can retrain your brain to use a different pathway to communicate to your leg.
From a sitting or standing position try lifting your leg. Now let’s try it again but this time concentrate on bending your knee and lifting it as high as you can. Did your leg go up higher?
If it did that’s due to neuroplasticity. Practice this over and over so it becomes the stronger pathway. You will still need to rebuild strength by exercising.
Retrain Your Brain to Walk Correctly
Oftentimes, people with MS walk slumped over looking at the ground to keep from tripping. If this is you, you trained your brain to believe this is how you should walk to be safe. You are unconsciously walking improperly.
When you consciously walk you are retraining your brain to walk properly. Over time this new pathway will become the norm and you should see your walking improving. When first starting out it’s best to do this with walking aids so your brain feels safe.
Retrain your brain to walk:
- Stand up tall with your head up and shoulders back
- Using a walking aid push off with your toes
- Lift your knee moving your leg forward
- Straighten your knee
- Consciously bring your heel to the floor first then your toes
- Repeat
Every time you walk focus and think about each step you take.
How do you retrain your brain to stop being negative?
No matter how much you take care of yourself, it’s too easy to start criticizing and beating yourself up. Instead of looking at what’s wrong and why you aren’t healing focus your mind on thinking positive.
“Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” – Buddha
Stop comparing yourself to others. I once mentioned to my husband that my elderly mother walks better than I do. Then my husband changed my attitude by saying “yeah, but she doesn’t have MS.” It’s natural to feel envious, jealous, or resentful when you see your body isn’t working like everyone else.
Stop saying “could have,” “should have,” or “would have.” Stop dwelling in the past, there’s nothing you can change about the past – let it go. It’s the future you can change for the better.
Instead of comparing yourself to others think of things you are grateful for. It doesn’t necessarily need to be your health it could be the sun is shining, your kids are happy, or your house is clean.
Keep a journal of things that you accomplished even if it’s something small. Such as “I drank eight glasses of water” or “I exercised for 15 minutes.”
Stimulate your brain by doing puzzles and other brain activities like learning to play an instrument or playing video games. Overcome walking or balance problems by using your conscious brain to control those movements. Train your brain to take a different pathway to communicate to the rest of your body.
Retain your brain by:
- Being optimistic – boosts your immunity
- Breathing deeply
- Eating healthy
- Focusing on your joints or muscles when moving
- Getting better quality sleep
- Laughing more
- Meditating
- Relaxing
- Staying positive
- Writing in a gratitude journal
You can’t control the events surrounding you, but you can control your reactions. With practice, you can change from a negative mindset to a positive mindset – this allows your body to heal.
Neuroplasticity for MS
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt. It allows the brain to find a new way to make connections around the MS damage. It basically allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for the disease.
If you’re suffering from weakness in your body or from a negative mindset you can use neuroplasticity to get stronger and have a more positive mindset. Think positive thoughts throughout the day, and focus on your body when moving. Neuroplasticity doesn’t happen overnight, it takes practice, practice, practice.
You can do this!
The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving with MS
Unlock the power of a healthy lifestyle with this exclusive ebook! Discover practical strategies and expert advice on managing MS naturally through nutritious eating and mindful living. This comprehensive guide is packed with wellness tips, and lifestyle recommendations tailored specifically for you. Take control of your health and embark on a transformative journey toward a balanced and vibrant life. Get your hands on this invaluable resource and start thriving today!
Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347609/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4364082/
Neuroplasticity for Multiple Sclerosis
Hi I have followed you for a while. I’ve hadMS 18 years. My left side is severely affected. I’m very interested in this neuroplasty and wonder if I could benefit from it. I’m 63 years old and struggle most of the time. Can you recommend one of the books to start with and maybe some exercises you highly recommend that has greatly helped you. I’m ready to put me efforts into something positive and hope for some improvement. I’m tired of my tired life. I welcome any suggestions. Thank you Patti Wagner
Hi Patti,
You can benefit from neuroplasticity no matter what your age is.
The book “Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess” by Caroline Leaf has a 5 step plan to help eliminate toxic thinking, depression, anxiety, stress, etc. I found it very helpful.
As far as exercising goes, I use neuroplasticity to help lift my leg higher. While sitting, I lift my knee as high as I can, then using my hands I lift my knee higher (up toward my chest). Then I release my hands, as I’m concentrating to keep my leg up it slowly falls back down (not letting my leg drop down quickly). – It’s training my brain that my knee (leg) can go higher.
I do this for both legs multiple times a day but I put an ankle weight on my stronger leg.
Cathy