From the series, Polio Survivors Ask, by Nancy Baldwin Carter, B.A, M.Ed.Psych, from Omaha, Nebraska, is a polio survivor, a writer, and is founder and former director of Nebraska Polio Survivors Association. Q: Every now and then I get a feeling of sadness over losses that I associate with my aging with polio. I was never taught to acknowledge my polio emotions, and …
Shared peer advice from polio survivors about what works for them.
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Please Be Seated!
Prolonged standing is stressful; some people find it harder to stand in one place than to walk. We need to conserve energy while doing everyday tasks so we have vitality left for the fun stuff. So…..sit down! Sitting while performing activities takes 25% less energy – how easy is that? And the benefits don’t stop there; sitting places less demand …
Exercise – The Basics
Muscle stretching and joint range-of-motion exercises are important whenever there is muscle weakness. Preventing tightness, where muscles are weak, is important to maximize function and is particularly important in the chest wall and abdominal musculature if there is a limitation of breathing capacity. Preventing tightness in the hip and knee is important to maximize walking ability when there is significant weakness …
Basic Beginning Exercise for Polio Survivors and More
David Guy, MS, CPT USA (ret). Guy is a retired physical therapist who has worked in multiple settings from the Army to universities. He has worked with polio survivors throughout his career. He now helps out with a polio support group in Arizona. “Exercise admonitions: Take these exercises to your doctor and ask your doctor if it is all right for you …
Lifestyle Changes
Making certain lifestyle changes is reported by polio survivors as the most effective treatment for the late effects of polio (Yarnell, 1998). Almost everyone who adopts such changes achieves some relief of symptoms (Westbrook & McIlwain, 1996). The change most recommended is the adoption of energy conservation techniques, which may involve the elimination, reduction, or modification of various physical activities. …
Pacing
As a person with post-polio syndrome, one of the fundamental self-care guidelines that I use to conserve physical energy and avoid fatigue is to rest regularly throughout the day. I use a vibrating silent timer to remind me when to stop and rest. I’ve depended upon this little timer to remind me to stop and rest every four hours, to …
Lighten Up – Rest, Pacing, and Timing
You probably fill your car’s gas tank when it is one-half or one-fourth empty rather than waiting until it runs out of gas. Rest is the body’s equivalent of refueling. If you wait until your body is running on empty, it may be difficult to get going afterward and you may be out of commission for a few days. Many …
Posture
DON’T SLOUCH! Sit up! Stand up straight! Watch your posture! How many times did we hear that from our moms when we were growing up? So often that it probably went in one ear and out the other. But Mom was right after all. You may think it takes more work to sit or stand upright than to slouch, but …
Joint Protection
Joint protection really means joint preservation. If a joint is surrounded by weak muscles or an imbalance exists between weak and strong muscles, the strain can cause ligaments around the joint to stretch, giving less protection to the joint. Stabilizing a wobbly joint takes more work and, therefore, more energy. Eventually, joints may be pulled out of normal alignment by …
Joint Deformities
Modern biomechanical and gait analyses identify excessive demands being placed on the joints and muscles. Overly strained muscles, tendons, and ligaments wear out. The proper therapeutic approach is to correct any deformities and to reduce excessive strain with appropriate orthoses (bracing), assistive devices (canes, crutches, etc.), changes in lifestyle, or selective reconstructive surgery. Joint deformities are most common in the …