Living With Polio

Millions of individuals who had polio are living in all areas of the world. Survivors range in age from a few months to nonagenarians (in their nineties). Aftereffects vary greatly depending on the number and location of the nerve cells destroyed by the poliovirus. The challenge or ease of living with polio varies for each survivor, depending on the availability of medical care and rehabilitation opportunities, and their family and social support.

Advice, hints, explanations, etc., are categorized by topic and are searchable. The source of the material is identified.

Reminder: PHI’s post-polio.org and IVUN’s ventusers.org or ventnews.org features numerous articles to assist in living with polio.

Aging Well with Post-Polio Syndrome: Addressing Physical Reasons for Sleep Problems

Researchers at the University of Washington’s Aging Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (2009)

Getting a better sleep may not always happen overnight, but if your sleep problems are due to medical issues, there are ways you can manage them.

Aging with Post-Polio Syndrome and Sleep Problems

Researchers at the University of Washington’s Aging Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (2009)

One of the first things that people notice as they grow older is a change in their sleeping patterns. The older they get, the less they sleep; or they just feel less rested when they wake up.

Yoga Benefits Polio Survivor

Alan Fiala, PhD (deceased), Falls Church, Virginia

Yoga has provided benefits to me in improving breathing, maintaining flexibility, improving balance and reducing stress. I have post-polio syndrome with loss of muscle strength, and I do not seek to gain strength from yoga.

Post-Polio Medical Care: Post-Polio Specialists and Primary Care Physicians

Joan L. Headley, Executive Director, Post-Polio Health International

Post-Polio Health International created a survey asking polio survivors about their post-polio medical care. The survey, Post-Polio Medical Care: Post-Polio Specialists and Primary Care Physicians, was posted online and a version was also published in Post-Polio Health (Volume 30, Number 2).

Data was gathered from 632 people; 496 completed the survey online and 136 copies received by mail were entered manually. Partial information was also entered.

Shingles Vaccine Experience among the Survivors of Polio (2013)

Frederick M. Maynard, Chair, PHI Medical Advisory Committee, Marquette, Michigan

Members of PHI concerned that polio survivors might have abnormalities of the immune system questioned if taking the vaccine would either increase the risk of complications or make them less effective.

Opportunities to Participate in Research

NEW STUDY ON AFM AND POLIO A new study concerning acute flaccid myelitis (AFM... More

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