Paralympic champion Stephanie Millward hails new Swim England fact sheet

Paralympic champion Stephanie Millward has hailed the publication of a new fact sheet on swimming with Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

Swim England’s Swimming and Health Commission, in collaboration with Parkinson’s UK and MS Society, has created the fact sheet on two of the most common long-term neurological conditions, which affect more than 300,000 people in the UK combined.

It is intended to provide suggestions to help people with the conditions, and those who support them, to decide how to best approach getting active in the water.

Millward, a MS Society ambassador who won 10 Paralympic medals, including two golds at the Rio 2016 Games, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was 17.

She said: “It’s great that this new fact sheet about swimming with MS is now available.

“I know from my own experience of MS that it can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable – I also know the amazing benefits swimming can have.

“As MS is different for everybody it’s important that people find something that works for them.

“If you’re interested in trying out swimming this fact sheet is a good place to start.”

Potential benefits

The fact sheet was written by Health Commission members Ian Gordon, a retired GP and former Swim England medical adviser and Chief Medical Officer of the British swimming and Olympic team, and Jacqueline Pattman, Aquatic Physiotherapy Specialist Chartered Physiotherapist, education and committee member and tutor with the Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists.

The fact sheet also received technical input from specialists at Parkinson’s UK and MS Society, who both support funding for research and campaign for fairer treatment, better services and support for people living with the conditions.

With both conditions, people may experience a range of problems which could affect someone’s capability or motivation to swim.

The fact sheet helps to explain how swimming can help both conditions and some of the things to consider before, during and after swimming such as, what to look for in a pool facility, swimwear, support available and how to adapt the chosen activity to different capabilities.

Being active can offer a range of benefits to people with Parkinson’s or MS.

This could include muscle strengthening, improved cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, improvements in mood and quality of life and an ability to perform everyday activities with reduced levels of fatigue.

Andrew Power, Swim England water wellbeing specialist, said: “Being active in water has so many potential benefits for people with Parkinson’s and MS.

“Water provides constant resistance to help build strength and the pressure of the water can help improve circulation and in turn heart and lung health.

Fantastic resource

“Water also stabilises and supports the body which can offer greater freedom and range of movement.

“For those who struggle with their balance, this can be particularly motivating as they explore new ways to move that can’t be achieved on land.”

Tim Morton, physical activity programme lead at Parkinson’s UK, added: “We are delighted to have worked with Swim England on the new fact sheet.

“We want everyone to enjoy being active and we hope that this fantastic resource will give more people with Parkinson’s, and their loved ones, the chance to try swimming.”

The new fact sheet is the latest to have been developed this year and follows a ‘Swimming after Stroke’ fact sheet developed with University of Nottingham and the Stroke Association.

There are now 14 different conditions covered through Swim England’s fact sheets, which are free to download from the Just Swim website.

Swim England’s high-quality fact sheets are reviewed every three years to ensure they stay up to date.

For more information on this or other aspects of Swim England’s health and wellbeing work please click here, or email [email protected]