Home > Adult Coloring > Blog > Top 3 Health Benefits of Coloring Therapy for MS

Top 3 Health Benefits of Coloring Therapy for MS

By May 1st 2016

Top 3 Health Benefits of Coloring for Adults Experiencing Complications with Motor Skills Due to MS

Multiple sclerosis is a medical condition that has the ability to detrimentally impact the dexterity of the hands, coordination, and the strength of the body. This is due to the negative effect that the disease has on the central nervous system. The main function of this system of the body is to receive the sensory information that surrounds us – the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the smells, and the tactile-based information.

This sensory information is received through a large assortment of special receptors. Once it is received by the central nervous system, we respond to the information with a specific thought, a specific action, or a combination of both thoughts and actions. According to numerous studies, those with MS often experience problems with their motor skills because of interruptions to the central nervous system’s inability to properly process sensory information received.

Many patients are now finding that, by simply engaging in the act of coloring, their motor skills are enhanced.

Coloring Therapy for MS

Sensory Input and/or Feedback a Necessity to Movements
According to medical professionals, all of the movements and the actions performed by the body require various types of sensory input and/or feedback. This is considered to be especially true when it comes to the movements of the fingers and the hands. These movements, according to doctors, require a very high level of dexterity and a high level of complexity.

If the sensory information from the central nervous system is considered to be impaired as a result of MS, there is sure to be a general loss of sensation, a loss of strength, and a loss of dexterity. In many instances, a tremor may develop. Now that many studies have been performed on those with MS, recent data suggests that coloring may actually optimize the motor skills of the individual that suffers from this devastating condition.

Keep in mind, coloring will not resolve strength, dexterity, and fine motor skills of the hands; however, those that color with MS have experienced marked improvements with their motor skills.

3 Health Benefits
All of the studies that have been conducted on multiple sclerosis patients and coloring suggest that coloring offers the following 3 health benefits:

  1. Coloring involves both logic and creativity as far as coloring forms and combining colors. These activities help to activate the cerebral cortex of the brain – which aids in vision and fine motor skills, or, the coordination that is required to make small movements that are precise. When this part of the brain is activated, the part of the brain that is often detrimentally impacted by stress and unfavorable emotions – the amygdala – experiences a level of deactivation. Essentially, this helps the MS patient to focus on the coloring activity, reduces stress, and helps the patient perform more precise hand movements.
  2. Multiple sclerosis often results in tremors that cause jerky hand movements. This, in turn, often results in stress and anxiety for a MS patient experiencing complications. Those that engage in coloring often become relaxed. This allows the patient focus on the movements associated with their motor skills without experiencing stress and anxiety. The relaxed patient is often the patient that displays the highest level of success in improving their motor skills.
  3. Coloring therapy has been found to be highly effective in building a patient’s self-confidence. In turn, this will aid in restoring the patients overall sense of being in control. The patient that is confidence in feeling as if they are in control is the patient that is better able to control the movements of their hand and improve their motor skills.

Category :

Adult Coloring Blog