Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Helps Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Stay Active Through Cooling Vest Program

Cait and Scotch posed photo

Wheaton, Illinois – August 28, 2026 – For many people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), rising body temperatures can trigger or worsen symptoms, making everyday activities, including spending time outdoors, playing with children or exercising, more difficult. At Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, patients in the hospital's neuromuscular rehabilitation program are finding relief through the use of cooling vests, an innovative tool designed to help lower core body temperature and improve function.

An estimated 60% to 80% of people with MS are sensitive to heat, which can lead to symptoms such as difficulty walking, cognitive challenges and blurred vision. Research, primarily done in outpatient and community settings, has found that a cooling vest designed to keep the core temperature within safe levels can combat thermosensitivity, a condition of being affected by heat or shifts in temperature, and alleviate some of these symptoms.

Marianjoy clinicians wanted to study the impact of cooling vests in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, an area where limited research has been conducted to date. The Marianjoy Cooling Vest Program was created to assess if torso cooling could improve walking capacity and facilitate fatigue management for thermosensitive patients with MS.

Elizabeth Foss assisting MS patient

Findings from Marianjoy's study, which is in the process of being published, are encouraging. Therapists observed that patients, after wearing a cooling vest for approximately 30 minutes, experienced an increase in walking distance by 97% and walking speed by 17%.

About 58% of the MS patients studied reported visual impairments such as double vision or blurred vision. After using the cooling vest for 30 minutes, 100% of those patients with visual impairments improved in visual acuity. The findings indicate that torso cooling can lead to improvement in quality of life for MS patients with thermosensitivity.

"Heat can have a significant impact on people with multiple sclerosis, affecting their mobility, vision and overall ability to participate in daily activities," said Elizabeth Foss, MS, OTR/L, FAS, lead therapist in Marianjoy's neuromuscular rehabilitation program. "Cooling vests are giving patients another tool to help manage symptoms, increase endurance and engage more fully in the activities that matter most to them."

Cait and husband on vacation

Cait Elwart’s Cooling Vest Experience

One patient who has experienced the benefits firsthand is Cait Elwart, a 34-year-old Yorkville resident, athletic trainer and mother of two who was diagnosed with MS in 2022. Following a severe relapse earlier this year that left her unable to walk independently, Elwart completed inpatient rehabilitation at Marianjoy, where she was introduced to cooling vest therapy.

During rehabilitation, therapists had Elwart wear a cooling vest before completing mobility and endurance tests. "After wearing the vest, I did significantly better," said Elwart. "It helps you do more and feel better and you don't get the same slam of symptoms. With MS, you can hit a wall and feel like you can't do any more activity."

Since returning home, Elwart has incorporated a cooling vest into her daily life, using it during outdoor activities, including riding her beloved horse named Scotch. She also recently used a cooling vest to participate in activities with her two children, ages four and seven, while on a family vacation in Michigan.

"I really don't feel like I could participate in vacation without it," Elwart said. “It allowed me to do more and enjoy time with my family without feeling overwhelmed by my symptoms.”

Cait wearing vest on her horse

In addition to introducing patients to cooling technology, Marianjoy therapists help connect eligible individuals with resources that may provide cooling vests at little or no cost. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), for example, offers cooling equipment assistance programs for qualifying patients.

As Marianjoy continues its research, clinicians hope to further demonstrate how cooling vests can support rehabilitation outcomes and improve quality of life for people living with MS.

About Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is the only acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital in DuPage County and is nationally recognized for its comprehensive rehabilitation services.

Earlier this month, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital ranked No. 2 in Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area and is nationally ranked in Rehabilitation at No. 40 in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals” rankings.