• Effectiveness

  Major (for Improve mobility)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (slow movement (bradykinesia), dystonia)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 30 min Weekly

Advice & Tips: The treadmill has several advantages over walking on a track or outdoors. If you're prone to freezing, you probably won't freeze on a treadmill. Also, you can hold on to the rails if you have balance problems. And by increasing the slope, you can dramatically increase the effort without having to raise the speed and risk injury. I also find that if I push really hard, holding on to the rails helps me go faster and/or farther than I would be able to otherwise. If I go too fast, too far, or too often, I find I am a lot slower the next time I try the treadmill. I also am prone to getting dystonia if I overdo it. But one unexpected benefit is that if I push hard, then get adequate rest, I tend to get noticeably faster after just a few sessions. And if I do get dystonia from doing something, I can do that same thing a few more times and I adjust so that dystonia doesn't happen.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for Treat my mood condition(s))
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for weight loss)
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for anxiety and frustration)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Sometimes
• Burden

  Very hard to take

Dosage: As needed

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for Treat my mood condition(s))
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for weight loss)
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for anxiety and frustration)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 90 min Weekly

Advice & Tips: Developed severe headaches immediately after walking on the treadmill.

• Effectiveness

  Major (for gait training)
• Effectiveness

  None (for multiple sclerosis)
• Effectiveness

  None (for ataxia (lack of coordination))
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (paresthesia)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 10 min Daily

Advice & Tips: Paresthesia began kicking in sooner and sooner. When it began kicking in within a minute of 2mph walking, I shifted to ab crunches.

Side effects: paresthesia

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for gait training)
• Effectiveness

  None (for ataxia (lack of coordination))
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (paresthesia)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 10 min Daily

Advice & Tips: At first (months ago) I tried using the treadmill as commonly advised (i.e., gradually increasing time and slope for aerobic exercise). I soon learned that approach left me exhausted. After consulting with fellow MSers at my monthly support group, I changed my treadmill routine to two 5-minute walks per day. The new schedule is working much better primarily because it's sustainable. It maintains my limberness and gait quality, but doesn't help much with weight loss. When I don't treadmill, my legs hurt more, and my gait quality (including drop foot) deteriorates. I typically use my walker every time I go out (for safety and fatigue management) so the treadmill supplies my only serious gait practice.

Side effects: paresthesia

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for improve stamina)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 10 min Daily

Advice & Tips: increases fatigue; several times a week, I'm too fatigued to exercise; hope that will improve with time

Side effects: paresthesia