Welcome to DAMMS411 where dance is life-giving therapy.
Executive Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
August 27, 2025
VISION:
MS Rising aims to illuminate the transformative, non-pharmacologic power of movement for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) through personal testimonies and peer-reviewed evidence-based research.
Our mission encompasses:
- The commitment to enhancing both physical and emotional health through proactive engagement in movement.
- The dedication to uplifting our peers, as articulated by the fundamental belief that "We are better together."
The panel is composed of individuals living with various forms of MS who have previously navigated the challenge of regaining lost mobility, moment by moment. In this journey, some members have achieved remarkable athletic levels. Each phase of this process is supported by pertinent evidence-based research demonstrating the effectiveness of movement for individuals with MS.
Target Audience for MS Rising:
1. Individuals Who Feel Physical Activity Is Inaccessible.
Approach: Simply showing up to witness successful stories can be enough to facilitate the release of positive endorphins, which serve as a source of motivational energy that can initiate movement. Start small—let the movement begin with batting your eyes, or tapping a finger or toe, and then progress from there.
2. Those who want to become active but don’t know where to start.
Approach: Observing the accomplishments of peers can spark the initial motivation to develop a movement plan. Understanding that the individuals on the MS Rising platform are there to support your journey is vital. During the MS Rising event, the panel will share how they accomplished their goals, and you can ask questions during the event and afterward through social media.
3. Individuals Who Are Already Engaged in Physical Activities.
This segment consists of individuals who have attained personal bests and are either striving for further improvement or maintaining their current achievements.
Approach: These individuals can offer valuable insights regarding adaptations that may facilitate progress or the exploration of new activities. The camaraderie and shared understanding foster a powerful bond that inspires everyone to move forward together.
Regardless of one’s level of activity, together, they can establish an effective network for ongoing support. There is no greater advocate than an individual who has navigated similar challenges. Together, those living with MS can foster a collaborative environment that promotes positive, energy-producing momentum. Visualize the target audience levels as waves that continuously ascend, generating a powerful wave that produces momentum, where success resides.
Strategies for Benefiting from MS Rising:
1. Overcome Self-Doubt: Approach your uncertainties with an open mindset and utilize a personal form of functional faith as a source of motivation to facilitate movement.
2. Partner with Others: Avoid the tendency towards self-isolation. Collaborating with others can help hold you accountable for making positive changes in your life. It’s easy to regress when you try to navigate challenges alone.
3. Try New Things: Embrace the willingness to experiment and step outside of your comfort zone.
4. Focus on Positives: Instead of fixating on limitations, direct your attention forward to what you are capable of achieving and the endless possibilities not yet recognized.
5. Exercise Self-Compassion: Allow yourself time to rest when needed, but don’t linger there indefinitely.
6. Do Your Best Each Day: Acknowledge that accomplishments may vary from day to day; what can be achieved today may differ from yesterday’s performance. Nonetheless, this realization should not deter you from efforts. Practice self-patience and celebrate your achievements.
7. Recognize Your Potential: Recognize that your capabilities often exceed your self-perception. Often, individuals are their own most significant inhibitors to success.
8. Start Small: Understand that growth and development often begin with minor, seemingly insignificant actions. Such steps are fundamental for neuroplasticity, which requires consistency and time to produce effective results. Practice patience and celebrate each small success along the journey.
9. Practice Positive Thinking: When experiencing low energy levels, consider engaging in positive thought patterns, as they can stimulate endorphin production and subsequently enhance energy. Additionally, maintaining adequate hydration is essential; sufficient water intake supports optimal cellular communication and increases overall energy.
10. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Spend time with people who are happy—the effects of positive energy can be highly contagious.
Why MS Rising:
Throughout the years, various initiatives have sought to promote movement and engagement for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, MS Rising distinguishes itself by functioning as a community where individuals with MS serve as the primary driving force and resource hub. Through one-on-one interactions, we can initiate a ripple effect that impacts each individual. Yet, when we unite our voices as a collective patient team, we generate a formidable wave of energy that inspires our peers to take action. To sustain this momentum beyond the annual event, some panel members will facilitate patient-to-patient communication through social media, ensuring continuous support during both challenging and celebratory moments.
EVIDENCE-BASED SUPPORT FOR OUR MISSION
1. Evidence for benefits of watching something positive - Online Peer Support for People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Synthesis Systematic Review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9749829/
2. Evidence for benefits of watching something positive - Acute and Lasting Benefits of a Virtual Reality in Multiple Sclerosis (P1.7-010) https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.92.15_supplement.P1.7-010
3. Evidence of the benefits of physical activity for MS - The Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity in Modulating Disease Progression and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17162713
4. Fitness, physical activity, and exercise in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review on current evidence for interactions with disease activity and progression - PMC https://share.google/HJzLmPYZ1OhzKVQPG
5. Exercise in the management of persons with multiple sclerosis - PMC https://share.google/66tzJqpz2SAqr9848
6. Exercise Training for Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review of History, Benefits, Safety, Guidelines, and Promotion - PMC https://share.google/yHKpOrNEZvcsso7Y2
7. Exercise prescription for patients with multiple sclerosis; potential benefits and practical recommendations - PMC https://share.google/R0arqAOLEWWTJuRy8
8. High intensity exercise training on functional outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review - ScienceDirect https://share.google/ZDDrPeAOmz84MRXTf
9. Neuroplasticity-Based Technologies and Interventions for Restoring Motor Functions in Multiple Sclerosis, January 2017. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-47861-6_11
10. Forging New Pathways in the Brain. Neuroplasticity helps the brain recover lost function. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/momentum-magazine/research-and-science/forging-new-pathways-in-the-brain
11. Neuroplasticity and Motor Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review on MRI Markers of Functional and Structural Changes - PMC https://share.google/bKGbqzB2RqMrOCTCD
12. Neural Regeneration Research https://share.google/jcVaW6lmv8c8b7NcS