Walking with MS #shorts

Do you ever feel like people are staring at you when you walk (thanks to MS)? 🤔

A lot of my clients with MS feel this way, but there’s good news…

Whether people are staring or not, you CAN build confidence in your mobility (even if you've tried exercise before and it didn't help)

Here’s the method that will help 💪:

1️⃣ Practice functional strengthening exercises.
→ Ideas: marching, leg kicks, hamstring curls, ankle lifts.

2️⃣ Work on functional balance exercises to boost stability.
→ Ideas: weight shifting, staggered stance balance, bridesmaid walk

3️⃣ Practice walking at home (with or without a mobility aid)... while a family member (or two) watches.

4️⃣ Gradually add more people watching—start with 2 and build up until it feels like you’re walking in public with strangers around.

5️⃣ Once you feel more confident at home, try repeating these steps outdoors — on a sidewalk, in the park, or anywhere that feels safe.

The goal is to build strength and balance FIRST, then make walking in front of people part of your exercise routine, not just something you face when you're out in public.

When my MS clients practice this, their brain gets used to people watching them, and over time, it feels less scary! 🙌

As a result, their walking quality improves and they feel more comfortable when they’re out and about. 🚶‍♀️

💬 Will you try these this week? Let me know in the comments!

[DoctorGretchenHawley]

Do you ever feel like people are staring at you when you walk (thanks to MS)? 🤔

A lot of my clients with MS feel this way, but there’s good news…

Whether people are staring or not, you CAN build confidence in your mobility (even if you've tried exercise before and it didn't help)

Here’s the method that will help 💪:

1️⃣ Practice functional strengthening exercises.
→ Ideas: marching, leg kicks, hamstring curls, ankle lifts.

2️⃣ Work on functional balance exercises to boost stability.
→ Ideas: weight shifting, staggered stance balance, bridesmaid walk

3️⃣ Practice walking at home (with or without a mobility aid)... while a family member (or two) watches.

4️⃣ Gradually add more people watching—start with 2 and build up until it feels like you’re walking in public with strangers around.

5️⃣ Once you feel more confident at home, try repeating these steps outdoors — on a sidewalk, in the park, or anywhere that feels safe.

The goal is to build strength and balance FIRST, then make walking in front of people part of your exercise routine, not just something you face when you're out in public.

When my MS clients practice this, their brain gets used to people watching them, and over time, it feels less scary! 🙌

As a result, their walking quality improves and they feel more comfortable when they’re out and about. 🚶‍♀️

💬 Will you try these this week? Let me know in the comments!

[andrealomax]

All the time, however, I feel better and more confident after working out😊

[whitney]

I’ve learned that sometimes that’s real people are staring at you or they’re watching you and the only reason why I know this is because they have come up and told me later how I am an inspiration to them by simply living my life and it is amazing to me how often this happens so I refuse to believe that it’s just my imagination anymore

[margaretthompson]

Stupid question, havevMS, and am UNABLE to walk. If I could walk i wouldn't give a damn if people looked at me. They probably don't, they're consumed with their own issues 😡

[marybethcully]

I work diligently on functional walking and my DH always notices. I have stopped worrying about what others think because I have found they either are uncomfortable or impatient with how I move for whatever reason. I take steps not to inconvenience anyone, and smile at the stares, but I simply cannot worry about other people’s perceptions. 🤷‍♀️

[PallasAthene]

Honestly I worry more that someone will bump into me and send me off balance or expect me to be the one to move out of their way when they try to walk through me because I look ‘normal’.

[emmas]

For me, it's more that people don't understand, as one day I can walk fairly normally, and the next I'm hobbling around like an 85 year old.

[OksanaWorking]

Yes! I can relate. 🙄🙄🙄
So.
Walk slow, methodically, take each step carefully so I don’t trip, think about each step.
And since I do walk slower with my cane, I walk on the side of a walkway so people behind me who walk faster, can walk ahead.
And thus I do not create traffic jams! 😃

[Hrmntor]

I see many more people now with limited mobility then I ever did before my diagnosis. I try to force myself to roll off the balls of my limited left foot

[DTae]

I don’t even trip off that, I appreciate it❤️

[hurkuy]

I sometimes experience this situation too, but I find people who stare at me, especially at my legs and the way I walk, extremely rude. That’s why, when someone looks at me like that, I do the same to them—I look them up and down with the most sarcastic and disdainful expression I can manage. And if the person happens to be overweight or poorly dressed, I look at them with even more contempt because what they’re doing is so rude.

[sarakhaldi]

When my husband (nothing bothers this man) and friends (who normally mind their business) snap on people for staring at me, I know they are 😂 but you’re probably correct

[GlorytoGod]

Most days if I have to go to a public place I just get in and out and get basic necessities.

[maryhinze-joyce]

I have never really cared what other people think about me when I walk with my rollater. I have to concentrate more on putting one foot in front of the other. Everyone that I know knows to not talk to me about pretty much anything because that will take my concentration off my walking and I am more than likely going to trip or fall. So no, I don’t worry about any of that stuff 😅😅😅

[Jamillah]

I stopped wearing makeup and trying to look cute because I didn’t want people to look at me. I wanted to be an ugly wallflower!