Living with multiple sclerosis can feel a little like your body forgot to send you the daily agenda.
One day, energy is decent. The next, fatigue arrives before lunch. Muscle weakness, discomfort, stiffness, changes in balance and temperature sensitivity can also make it difficult to predict exactly how you will feel from one day to the next.
For people living with MS, medical care and ongoing guidance from a neurologist remain essential. However, many people are also exploring supportive wellness therapies to complement their medical care and help address some of the everyday challenges that can come with MS.
At The Peak Wellness Spa in North Scottsdale, we believe the conversation should start with one question: What are you trying to support? Because “I have MS” does not tell us nearly enough.
The short answer is that some non-invasive wellness therapies may help support specific concerns associated with MS, such as fatigue, muscle performance, discomfort and recovery. However, these therapies are not a cure for multiple sclerosis and should not replace medical treatment.
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, and symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. Therefore, the wellness therapy that makes sense for one individual may not be appropriate for another.
That is why we look at the person, the symptoms and the goals before recommending a wellness plan.
In other words, this is not a “try everything and hope for the best” situation.
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation or PBM, uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to influence cellular activity.
Researchers continue to study photobiomodulation in people with multiple sclerosis. A 2024 systematic review found promising results related to motor, sensory and cognitive function. Additionally, research has explored PBM’s effects on inflammation, oxidative stress and cellular processes associated with MS.
Another 2024 study suggested that individualized photobiomodulation may help improve muscle performance, force recovery and strength in people with mild to moderate MS.
Although the research is encouraging, larger studies and standardized treatment protocols are still needed.
At The Peak, medical-grade red and near-infrared light therapy may be considered as part of a supportive wellness plan for people focused on cellular health, muscle recovery and overall wellness.
And no, this is not the little red bulb you use to keep French fries warm. Wavelength, intensity and treatment parameters matter.
Fatigue is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms reported by people living with multiple sclerosis.
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, commonly called PEMF, uses electromagnetic pulses to interact with the body at a cellular level. Research surrounding PEMF and MS fatigue has produced mixed results.
For example, some earlier studies found little difference between PEMF and placebo. More recently, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials found a small but statistically significant reduction in fatigue severity. However, researchers did not find significant improvements in quality of life or depressive symptoms and called for larger studies.
Translation? Interesting. Promising in one specific area. But we are not calling it a magic wand.
For someone living with MS-related fatigue, PEMF may be a supportive therapy worth discussing as part of a broader wellness strategy.
Pain and physical discomfort can also affect people living with MS. Depending on the individual, discomfort may involve muscles, joints or nerve-related symptoms.
The Aspen Laser uses photobiomodulation to deliver therapeutic light energy to targeted areas of the body. Low-level laser and photobiomodulation therapies are being studied for their potential effects on inflammation, cellular function and muscle performance.
At The Peak, Aspen Laser Therapy is commonly used to support pain relief and recovery. For a person living with MS, the goal would not be to “treat MS.” Instead, we may focus on a specific concern.
A painful shoulder. A sore knee. Muscle discomfort after activity.
An area that seems to be working overtime because another area is not cooperating.
Sometimes, getting specific is the smartest place to start.
This is where we want to be especially clear.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, has been explored in people with multiple sclerosis for decades. However, current evidence does not support HBOT as a treatment to slow MS progression or improve MS-related disability. Current clinical guidance also does not recommend hyperbaric oxygen specifically for MS-related fatigue.
So, why might someone with MS still ask about HBOT? Because HBOT may be used for other wellness or recovery goals that exist alongside an MS diagnosis. The important distinction is why the therapy is being considered.
At The Peak, we do not position HBOT as a treatment or cure for multiple sclerosis. Any recommendation should be based on the individual’s health history, goals and medical guidance.
This is one of those situations where the words “What are we trying to accomplish?” really matter.
If you live in Arizona and have MS, you probably do not need us to explain that heat can be… a lot.
Many people with multiple sclerosis experience temporary worsening of symptoms when body temperature rises. This is often called heat sensitivity or Uhthoff’s phenomenon.
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, exercising in cooler environments, cooling down before and after physical activity and staying hydrated may help people with MS manage heat-related symptom changes.
For this reason, heat-based wellness therapies are not automatically a good fit for every person with MS.
Yes, we offer infrared sauna at The Peak. No, we are not going to automatically put someone with MS in one because “detox.”
Individual symptoms and heat tolerance matter. Particularly in Scottsdale, where walking to your car in July can feel like an infrared sauna you did not book, temperature awareness should be part of the wellness conversation.
Muscle weakness, deconditioning and fatigue can create a frustrating cycle.
You feel tired, so you move less. Then, reduced activity can affect muscle strength and physical function. As movement becomes harder, staying active may feel even more challenging.
Exercise and rehabilitation remain important parts of MS care. Current MS management guidance supports tailored exercise programs based on a person’s needs and abilities.
Depending on medical clearance and individual symptoms, supportive wellness services may be considered alongside physical therapy, exercise and rehabilitation.
The goal is not to push through exhaustion. Instead, the goal is to support the body so movement and recovery may feel more manageable.
There is no single best wellness therapy for every person with multiple sclerosis.
A person primarily struggling with fatigue may have very different goals than someone focused on muscle recovery or localized discomfort. Meanwhile, another person may need to avoid heat-based therapies because temperature changes quickly aggravate symptoms.
A personalized wellness plan may consider:
At The Peak Wellness Spa in North Scottsdale, our team can help review your wellness goals and discuss which supportive services may make sense to explore. We also encourage people living with MS to involve their neurologist or healthcare provider when adding new wellness therapies to their routine.
Living with MS often means paying very close attention to your body.
Supportive wellness therapies are not a replacement for MS medical care. However, emerging research into photobiomodulation, PEMF and other non-invasive therapies continues to expand the conversation around fatigue, muscle function, discomfort and quality of life.
At The Peak, we believe the smartest wellness plan is the one built around the person sitting in front of us. Not just the diagnosis on their chart.
If you are living with multiple sclerosis and are curious about supportive wellness therapies in Scottsdale, schedule a wellness consultation with The Peak. We can discuss your symptoms, goals and current care plan to help determine which services may be worth exploring.
Medical Disclaimer: The services discussed in this article are intended for wellness and supportive purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent multiple sclerosis or any other disease. Individuals with MS should consult their neurologist or healthcare provider before beginning a new wellness therapy.
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