Any person who has a disability uses more energy than a nondisabled person to perform basic activities of daily living (ADL), because tasks are often performed using movement patterns that are not meant to be used. The process of using relatively nondisabled body parts to compensate for muscles that are weak or paralyzed saps energy. If a polio survivor attempts …

Co-morbidities are other medical diagnoses and conditions, in addition to previous paralytic poliomyelitis, that may contribute to and compound a person’s health problems and cause a decrease in the ability to carry out life’s functional activities. For example, cancer or kidney disease may develop in a survivor of polio as a co-morbid condition and make the disabling symptoms of fatigue …

Many polio survivors report that their feet and hands, especially in more severely affected limbs, have always been cold to the touch, their skin a purplish color. As they age, their limbs may become more sensitive to pain as the temperature decreases (Owen, 1985). When polio survivors were cooled in the laboratory from 86º F to 68º F, motor nerves …

Sometimes used in research, a muscle biopsy is a small piece of muscle tissue that is surgically removed for diagnostic purposes. Usually a local anesthetic is injected at the site of the biopsy. The invasive procedure takes less than an hour and is performed in an outpatient setting. The muscle tissue is examined by a pathologist under the microscope to …

Degenerative osteoarthritis is a common condition among all aging populations and is an increasingly common secondary condition (see Co-morbidities) among polio survivors as they age into their 50s and beyond. It usually occurs from a wearing-out of joint cartilage that is accelerated by trauma, including repetitive high use/overuse microtrauma. Thus, it is especially common in weight-bearing joints of polio survivors …

Aquatic therapy programs, one of the best forms of exercise for polio survivors due to reduced gravity and buoyancy, may include a combination of the following:  range-of-motion, strengthening, or aerobic exercises, stretching, relaxation, and swimming. Before establishing an aquatic therapy program, consult with a medical professional familiar with the late effects of polio to design one based on the individual’s …

Modern anesthesia has become extremely safe, but many survivors fear it because of reports of problems during and after anesthesia. Potential problems include a greater sensitivity to paralyzing drugs (muscle relaxants), possible need for mechanical ventilation after surgery, and pain problems after surgery. All survivors, especially those with a history of respiratory involvement, need to tell their surgeon and anesthesiologist …

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to ensure that people with disabilities have …

Alternative therapies, also called complementary, can support natural self-healing and encourage behaviors that promote a sense of overall well-being. Some alternative therapies originated in diverse cultures and in earlier times; others have emerged from new discoveries in science. In one survey, the use of alternative therapies by people with disabilities was higher than in the general population (Krauss et al., …

Drinking alcohol is a common way many cultures and individuals socialize and deal with stress. Although studies have identified benefits associated with lower levels of drinking, even “moderate” drinking has effects and risks. Alcohol is a drug that is a depressant and, for polio survivors, should be avoided because it can interfere with swallowing and nutrition, and impair judgment and/or …