Upper-limb pain in long-term poliomyelitis

Late functional deterioration is common in long-term poliomyelitis patients. While upper-limb pain in individual functional regions is common, its overall prevalence and pattern in long-term poliomyelitis is poorly documented.

To assess the nature of upper-limb pain in these patients and examine its association with dependence on mobility aids (and therefore upper limb 'overuse').

Questionnaire-based survey of patients attending a specialist unit.

Questionnaires were sent to 139 patients with known long-term poliomyelitis (mean 49.8 years post polio), attending the Lane Fox Unit out-patient clinic at St Thomas' Hospital between January 1998 and December 1998. There were questions on the nature of the patient's acute illness, limb involvement at initial infection ('polio-affected' limbs), the site and onset of upper-limb pain, hand dominance, previous injuries and surgery, and the use of mobility aids. Limbs that had sustained an injury or undergone surgery, at or preceding onset of upper-limb pain, were excluded from analysis.

Among 103 valid replies, the prevalence of upper limb pain was 64%. Mobility aids were used by 74%, and were associated with an increased risk of upper-limb pain, while 'polio-affected' limbs were at reduced risk.

These data support 'overuse' due to greater mobility aid dependence as a cause of increasing upper-limb pain in long-term poliomyelitis.