If you’re suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), regular exercise is a smart and healthy way to regulate your symptoms. Regular stretching, movement, cardio, and range-of-motion workouts will help maintain muscle strength, reduce physical pain, and keep your mood high. The following five tips will help you maintain your exercise regimen by keeping your body cool and limber in order to avoid symptom flare-ups.

1. Stretch
Stretching is the most important of any exercise routine. Stretching your muscles before and after a work-out will keep your limbs flexible and help you avoid spasms and body aches that can exacerbate symptom outbreaks.

2. Stay Cool
Overheating and overexertion are proven ways to worsen symptoms, so while you workout, make sure you’re drinking lots of ice cold water. This will help you stay hydrated and maintain a cool body core temperature. Also consider swim exercises, snow sports, and indoor gyms where the air conditioning will help keep your body at a healthy, cool temperature.

3. Set Goals
Setting realistic goals is the easiest way to stick to your regimen. Goals like these will not only give you something to work toward, but you will feel accomplished and motivated once your achieve them. By setting goals, you will be able to see your progress and easily recognize the physical benefits of your routine.

4. Stick with Cardio
Keeping your heart rate up helps increase blood flow, which will help you avoid fatigue and other common symptoms. Cardio is also less strenuous on your muscles, meaning you won’t have to worry about worsening muscle pain or discomfort after a workout. Just be sure to stay cool during your cardio routines.

5. Find a Partner
Having an exercise partner not only makes the daily regimen more entertaining, it will also help keep you on track. When you work out with someone, you have someone to answer to, which makes you more likely to stick with your schedule. You can also exchange tips that will help spice up your own regimen by adding new routines to your schedule.

When you’re living with Multiple Sclerosis, it’s important to maintain an exercise regimen. These five tips help you keep that healthy routine and sustain a comfortable quality of life. Stretching and staying cool will help you avoid symptom outbreaks, and working out with a friend will help you stay on track by making you accountable for your routine.