Post-Polio Syndrome (cont.)
What is the role of exercise in the treatment of post-polio syndrome?
The symptoms of pain, weakness, and fatigue can result from the overuse and
misuse of muscles and joints. These same symptoms can also result from disuse of
muscles and joints. This fact has caused a misunderstanding about whether to
encourage or discourage exercise for polio survivors or individuals who already
have post-polio syndrome.
Exercise is safe and effective when carefully prescribed and monitored by
experienced health professionals. Exercise is more likely to benefit those
muscle groups that were least affected by polio. Cardiopulmonary endurance
training is usually more effective than strengthening exercises. Heavy or
intense resistive exercise and weight-lifting using polio-affected muscles may
be counterproductive because they can further weaken rather than strengthen
these muscles.
Exercise prescriptions should include
- the specific muscle groups to be included,
- the specific muscle groups to be excluded, and
- the type of exercise, together with frequency and duration.
Exercise should be reduced or discontinued if additional weakness, excessive
fatigue, or unduly prolonged recovery time is noted by either the individual
with post-polio syndrome or the professional monitoring the exercise.
Can post-polio syndrome be prevented?
Polio survivors often ask if there is a way to prevent
post-polio syndrome. Presently, no intervention has been found to stop the deterioration of
surviving neurons. But physicians recommend that polio survivors get the proper
amount of sleep,
maintain a well-balanced diet, avoid unhealthy habits such as
smoking and
overeating, and follow an exercise program as discussed above. Proper lifestyle
changes, the use of assistive devices, and taking certain anti-inflammatory
medications may help some of the symptoms of post-polio syndrome.
Next: What research is being conducted on post-polio syndrome? »
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