Pacing, the very simple act of interspersing intervals of activity with intervals of rest to avoid excessive fatigue, can be very beneficial to post-polio individuals. Pacing not only minimizes the sense of muscle fatigue, but also, by objective measures, reduces local muscle fatigue and improves recovery of muscle strength (Agre et al., 1998). To date, appropriate rest and pacing of one’s activities are the most efficacious treatments for fatigue.
Fatigue, one of the most common complaints of polio survivors, can be brought on by a number of factors (see Fatigue), including excessive activity or by not stopping to rest from time to time while performing one’s daily activities. Survivors with the classic post-polio symptoms have difficulty in recovering strength after fatiguing activity (Agre et al., 1998). It may require two or more days for these individuals to recover from an exhausting activity. Avoidance of performing activities to the point of exhaustion is highly recommended.
Reference
Agre, J., Rodriquez, A., & Franke, T. (1998). Subjective recovery time after exhausting muscular activity in postpolio and control subjects. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 77(2), 140-144.