Epidemiology is the study of disease in populations or groups rather than in individuals. Epidemiological studies provide important information about frequency, distribution, and the risks of developing a certain type of problem. Many studies of polio survivors have been done on small, select populations such as individuals who seek treatment at a post-polio clinic, members of a support group, or …

Many survivors need to work because their jobs provide a necessary source of income as well as health insurance and retirement benefits. Many derive a sense of satisfaction or an identity from work. However, some face the dilemma of fulfilling work obligations and demands which can increase the strain on overworked muscles and increase “global” fatigue affecting mental acuity (see …

Electromyography (EMG) along with nerve conduction studies comprise electrodiagnostic testing, which is critical for accurate diagnosis of many nerve and muscle diseases. It is usually done by a neurologist or physiatrist. EMG involves inserting very thin needles into muscles in order to record and analyze their electrical activity when the muscle is at rest and when it contracts. It is …

Durable Medical Equipment, or DME, as it is referred to by insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid (known as third-party payers) and suppliers, is medical equipment such as ventilators, braces, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, scooters, etc., that has a fairly long lifespan and is needed to support, protect, and/or enhance function and independence. The equipment that polio survivors remember from early childhood …

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) are programs of the United States government that provide monthly payments to persons who are unable to work or earn up to a set income due to physical or psychological illness(es). If you are a citizen or legal resident of a country other than the United States, you will …

The criteria for diagnosing post-polio syndrome include: a prior episode of paralytic polio confirmed by medical history, neurologic examination, and, if needed, an electrodiagnostic exam to show changes consistent with prior anterior horn cell disease (exam is not required for limbs with obvious polio paralysis); a period of neurologic recovery followed by an extended interval of neurologic and functional stability, …

The main cause of respiratory difficulties in polio survivors is the inability to take a deep breath due to weakness of the respiratory muscles and to cough effectively to clear secretions and mucus plugs. The lack of a good cough can lead to further pulmonary complications such as pneumonia (including aspiration pneumonia) and respiratory insufficiency.  If an individual’s cough is …

Diastolic heart failure (or cor pulmonale) refers to the development of right ventricular heart failure due to diseases of the chest wall or the lungs that impair breathing sufficiently to lower blood oxygen and raise carbon dioxide levels. These two gas exchange abnormalities can work separately, or synergistically, to raise pulmonary artery pressure (pulmonary hypertension). Many intrinsic lung disorders can …

Indicators of coping were first described by Beatrice Wright (1982). Coping individuals focus on what they can do, rather than on what they cannot do; play an active role in their lives, rather than respond as passive victims; and participate in areas of life seen as worthwhile and meaningful. Problems are perceived to be manageable, rather than overwhelming. Personal problems …

Drinking sufficient fluids and eating enough bulk-producer foods in the daily diet are imperative in preventing constipation and, in some serious cases, impaction. In addition to a high fiber diet, Metamucil® or other bulk producers may be useful. Stool softeners, such as docusate (Colace® or Pericolace®) or polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX®) may also be used on a daily basis without causing …