Living With Polio

Millions of individuals who had polio are living in all areas of the world. Survivors range in age from a few months to nonagenarians (in their nineties). Aftereffects vary greatly depending on the number and location of the nerve cells destroyed by the poliovirus. The challenge or ease of living with polio varies for each survivor, depending on the availability of medical care and rehabilitation opportunities, and their family and social support.

Advice, hints, explanations, etc., are categorized by topic and are searchable. The source of the material is identified.

Reminder: PHI’s post-polio.org and IVUN’s ventusers.org or ventnews.org features numerous articles to assist in living with polio.

Positioning for Comfort during Work, Leisure Activities and Rest

I. INTRODUCTION

Please understand that consistently using the principles discussed below is important when performing ANY activity. In other words, do not wait to use these principles just when you are in pain, but rather, use the principles all of the time.

Why should you use these principles?

Reasonable Expectations from Physical Therapy

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT in a physical therapy evaluation, and how should the results be incorporated into treatment?

Comprehensiveness
In physical therapy school, students are taught all the components of the following type of evaluation. They are instructed to complete all of the components of the following evaluation on any body part that is affected by problems that the patient is being sent to physical therapy for.

Reasonable Goals for Physical Therapy.

Nearly every polio survivor comes to health care providers initially with the hope – whether clearly evident or secretly buried – that someone will be able to "make me as I was." Because of this hope, some survivors are initially reluctant to hear about suggestions a PT may make regarding lifestyle modifications, equipment options, etc. Often, polio survivors consider accepting changes such as these as an act of "giving up."

Why Should You Consider Seeing a PT? Choosing a PT.

One excellent reason for seeing a PT in the absence of declining physical function is to undergo a well-rounded baseline evaluation against which future problems might be measured.

Guide for Children in Rural Areas

"Chapter 7: Polio"

in Werner, David. Disabled Village Children: A Guide for Community Health Workers, Rehabilitation Workers, and Families. Hesperian Foundation. 2009.

Post-polio hospital admissions in Australia over a 10-year period: An observational study and analysis of trends by month, location, and comparable conditions

https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaf029 More

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