Polio Place

AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN POST-POLIO MANAGEMENT
Mahboon ur Rahman, Peshawar, Pakistan

Brief Description of Work: Muscle power of polio-afflicted children were assisted and evaluated by Oxford Muscle Testing Chart. The chart as a diagnostic tool gives strength of muscles for the purpose of surgical interventions or physical regime.

But the chart could not be used successfully as it focused only on the diagnostic component and did not give the Therapeutic Regime. Thus, the need was felt to fill the gap in the Oxford MPET chart and to make it useful in the therapeutic treatment of polio-affected children. Mahboob School of Physiotherapy took an initiative and its chairman, Dr. Mahboob ur Rahman, redesigned the said chart with the name of MPET chart which also includes the therapeutic component. The redesigned chart may now be called Mahboob Power Evaluation and Therapeutic (MPET) chart. It gives therapeutic plan along with the diagnostic or assessment of the muscle power of the polio-affected children. By using this chart by the therapist, the parents of the children or even the children by themselves can perform the exercise and improve their muscle power. It has been practiced since the last decade and has proven its worth.

Use of the Chart: The muscle power is mentioned from 0-5, here the physiotherapist will just tick mark with muscle power, as in quadriceps, grade 2, or tibialis posterior, grade 1, whatever may be.

For example, the first column mentions the group of muscles in the MPET chart. In the second column, after marking the grade for quadriceps in grade 2, then next column, the third, is for Exercise Regime positioning. The patient may do active exercise on side by elevating the gravity, so the side lying is marked, the fourth column is for exercises to be performed that is active exercises.

By doing these exercises for the next few months (keeping in mind the principle of kinesiology the repetitive exercises enhance muscle power), the muscle power may be increased to grade 3.