Currents issues in cardiorespiratory care of patients with post-polio syndrome

Abstract

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus. Most often, polio survivors experience a gradual new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection. The actual incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in individuals suffering from PPS is not known. However, there is a reason to suspect that individuals with PPS might be at increased risk. Method A search for papers was made in the databases Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed with the following keywords: post polio syndrome, cardiorespiratory and rehabilitation in English, French and Spanish languages. Although we targeted only seek current studies on the topic in question, only the relevant (double-blind, randomized-controlled and consensus articles) were considered. Results and Discussion Certain features of PPS such as generalized fatigue, generalized and specific muscle weakness, joint and/or muscle pain may result in physical inactivity deconditioning obesity and dyslipidemia. Respiratory difficulties are common and may result in hypoxemia. Conclusion Only when evaluated and treated promptly, somE patients can obtain the full benefits of the use of respiratory muscles aids as far as quality of life is concerned.

Post-polio Syndrome: More Than Just a Lower Motor Neuron Disease

“…The most commonly used instruments to assess non-motor domains include the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) (116), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), Short Fatigue Questionnaire (SFQ), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE) (117), Polio Problem List (PPL), Visual analog scale (VAS) (118), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) (119), World Health Organization quality of life abbreviated scale (WHOQOL-BREF) (120), University of Washington Self-Efficacy Scale (UW-SES) (121), Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) (112). Sleep disturbances (97) and respiratory function can be formally assessed through polysomnography and pulmonary function tests (PFT) (122, 123). RLS is typically diagnosed clinically (124) and most commonly evaluated using the validated international RLS rating scale (IRLS) (87, 93, 125).…”

Physical Exercise in Post-Polio Syndrome: Highlights

“…This is a justifiable fact since we are recruiting already staggering neuromuscular units as a result of PAA and that the new skeletal muscle weakness in PPS can be triggered by disuse, over training or by a combination of both. On the other hand other studies have demonstrated that the regular practice of exercise in patients with SPP can increase muscular endurance, besides bringing benefits to the cardiovascular system [5,7]. In an elegant review carried out by Tiffreau et al, 14 works related to physical exercise in SPP were selected, two of which involved exclusively aerobic training, seven on resistance training, two on hydrotherapy, one on concurrent training (aerobic and resisted in the same therapeutic session) and one where exercise prescription was performed according to subjects' daily observation.…”

“…Physical rehabilitation in patients with PPS can be compounded by performing resistance exercises (strength training), aerobic exercises, stretching exercises, energy conservation techniques and when necessary the prescription of orthoses [3][4][5][6].…”

Postpolio syndrome: A review of lived experiences of patients

“…The integrity of these neurons is compromised after many years of use by the persistent metabolic stress, which eventually results in motor unit wasting, creating gaps in the neuromuscular junction, and this is regarded as the main cause of fatigue. [27]…”