Chairobics.

This 45-minute video provides an excellent -- but strenuous -- seated aerobic workout, including warm-up, cool-down, and relaxation periods. The exercise leaders (an occupational therapist and a recreational therapist) are upbeat and pleasant, and the music is delightful.

The workout was developed for use by anyone with loss of strength secondary to their disability. Most participants with MS will need to gradually condition themselves for this level and duration of non-stop exercise. To avoid frustration they should respect fatigue.

The importance of good sitting posture and correct breathing are stressed, but adequate sitting balance is needed for certain movements requiring trunk bending or twisting. The wide variety of exercises throughout the session can effectively strengthen most major muscle groups in the arms, legs, neck, and upper torso.

Only occasional suggestions about how to modify the workout are given by the exercise leaders. It would be prudent to: 1) initially do only a portion of the aerobic section, or 2) do every other repetition until exercise tolerance improves. If hips and shoulders are weak, a person might exercise only the knees, feet, elbows, and hands in time with the music.

Exercise should be enjoyable! Improving functional strength and increasing endurance should be the goals -- not just reaching a target heart rate.

VHS, $20.00. Write: Abington Memorial Hospital, 1200 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001-3788; Tel: [phone].

Reviewed by Patricia Provance, a physical therapist and the coordinator of the MS rehabilitation program at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.