What it is
A short, honest summary.
- —New or worsening weakness, fatigue and pain that emerge decades after the original polio infection.
- —The nerves that compensated after polio slowly become overworked and begin to tire.
- —It is not a return of polio and not an infection — it is wear on a system that has carried more than its share.
What families notice
The signals worth taking seriously.
- 01New weakness in muscles affected — or even unaffected — by the original illness
- 02Unusual, heavy fatigue that rest does not fully clear
- 03Muscle and joint pain, especially after activity
- 04New difficulty with walking, stairs, or breathing
- 05Increased sensitivity to cold
My approach
How the work is structured.
- —Energy conservation — the central principle, not an afterthought.
- —Non-fatiguing strengthening and gentle aerobic work that protect rather than drain muscle.
- —Bracing, footwear and mobility aids reviewed to reduce the daily load on tired muscles.
- —Pacing strategies that let you do what matters without paying for it for days.
What recovery looks like
A plain-language picture.
“Post-polio syndrome progresses slowly. With pacing and the right support, most people stabilise and protect their independence for many years.”
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly.
- Should I 'use it or lose it'?
- Not here. With post-polio syndrome, over-use accelerates weakness. The aim is careful, sub-maximal activity — staying active without exhausting already-stressed muscles.
- Will the weakness keep progressing quickly?
- Usually it is slow. Most people, with pacing and support, hold their function steady for a long time.
For clinicians
Clinical detail, assessment and evidence.
Clinical summary
The picture in clinician register.
Post-polio syndrome is new weakness, fatigue and pain emerging decades after acute poliomyelitis, attributed to attrition of the enlarged motor units that had compensated for the original neuronal loss. Management is protective — energy conservation, non-fatiguing sub-maximal exercise, and orthotic and mobility review to offload overworked muscle.
Terminology
Terms worth being precise about.
- Motor-unit attrition
- Gradual failure of the over-extended motor units that compensated after polio.
- Overuse weakness
- Weakness accelerated by exhausting activity — the central error to avoid.
- Energy conservation
- Structured pacing of activity to protect limited muscle capacity.
Assessment & measures
What the first sessions measure.
- —Manual muscle testing, compared to the original distribution of involvement.
- —Fatigue scales.
- —Functional and gait assessment; orthotic and footwear review.
Red flags
Signs that need urgent escalation.
- Rapidly progressive weakness — reconsider the diagnosis.
- New respiratory or swallowing difficulty.
- New bulbar signs.
Referral & MDT
When and to whom to refer.
Neurology to confirm the diagnosis and exclude alternatives. Orthotics; respiratory assessment where indicated.
Evidence
References and guideline anchors.
- Non-fatiguing exercise in post-polio syndrome — PLACEHOLDER — verify against current guidelines before launch.