How Can I Make Getting Out of a Chair Easier With MS?
Updated: Sep 28
Difficulty standing from a chair often reflects a combination of leg weakness, reduced forward weight shift, balance and fatigue. Sit-to-stand itself can be both an assessment and a useful exercise. This article focuses on the rehabilitation and self-management side of the question. It does not replace advice from an MS neurologist, MS nurse, GP or other specialist when symptoms are new, severe or changing.
What does sit to stand mean for rehabilitation?
The starting point is function. Ask what has actually become harder: walking, stairs, standing from a chair, balance, exercise tolerance, getting around outdoors, using the gym or completing a normal day without needing excessive recovery. That gives rehabilitation a measurable target instead of treating the symptom in isolation.
Practical ways to work on it
Adjust chair height initially. Keep the starting level realistic and repeatable. In MS, an exercise is only useful if it can be performed with enough control to practise regularly. If fatigue, balance or another symptom changes during the session, reduce the challenge rather than forcing poor-quality repetitions.
Practise forward weight shift. Keep the starting level realistic and repeatable. In MS, an exercise is only useful if it can be performed with enough control to practise regularly. If fatigue, balance or another symptom changes during the session, reduce the challenge rather than forcing poor-quality repetitions.
Build repeated sit-to-stands. Keep the starting level realistic and repeatable. In MS, an exercise is only useful if it can be performed with enough control to practise regularly. If fatigue, balance or another symptom changes during the session, reduce the challenge rather than forcing poor-quality repetitions.
Add resistance once safe. Keep the starting level realistic and repeatable. In MS, an exercise is only useful if it can be performed with enough control to practise regularly. If fatigue, balance or another symptom changes during the session, reduce the challenge rather than forcing poor-quality repetitions.
How should you measure progress?
It is also reasonable for the goal to be maintenance at times. Preventing avoidable deconditioning, preserving transfer ability or keeping a safe walking routine can be meaningful rehabilitation outcomes in a long-term neurological condition.
Explore the wider MS rehabilitation hub
Bed Mobility With MS: Rolling, Bridging and Getting In and Out of Bed
Prefer guided group exercise? Book the strength and balance exercise class.
If you need advice tailored to you, book a physiotherapy assessment.
Looking for more practical support with MS? The Complete Guide to Multiple Sclerosis: Physiotherapy, Exercise & Self-Management brings detailed exercise, symptom-management and physiotherapy guidance together in one resource.
Comments