Basic Techniques for Lower Extremity Rehabilitation in Poliomyelitis Patients

Polio deformity is often the result of inappropriate preventive measures taken duringconvalescence. Most major deformities that cause significant disability can be prevented by splintage and physical therapy. If deformities of the hip, knee, and ankle are prevented duringthe late convalescent stage—three to six months—a patient with lower exremity weakness, whootherwise would not be able to walk, may become ambulatory with crutches and braces.Conservative and operative measures to correct established deformity are often necessary toconvert a non-ambulatory, house-bound patient to one who can re-enter daily society. Withappropriate surgical releases and serial casts, major deformities can be corrected. With the useof crutches and braces, the patient can learn to move about freely. It is vital to the successfulrehabilitation of the patient that follow-up, through the growth period, be maintained toprevent recurrence of deformity.KEYWORDS Poliomyelitis/rehabilitation Poliomyelitis/surgery Crutches Plaster casts
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - Category: Journals (General) Tags: ISSUE 2 Source Type: research