Exercise programs for patients with post-polio syndrome: a case report

Several authors have reported on post-polio syndrome, indicating a decline in muscle strength in individuals years after the onset of poliomyelitis. These reports include suggestions that strenuous exercise programs are contraindicated and may have deleterious effects for patients with post-polio syndrome. The purpose of this case study was to examine the effects of an aggressive, six-week isokinetic exercise program on a 59-year-old patient with post-polio syndrome. Peak torque values were assessed before and during the exercise program, and 6 and 22 weeks following cessation of the exercise program. The results indicate no deleterious effects secondary to the exercise program. The authors suggest future research strategies to investigate the efficacy of exercise programs for patients with post-polio syndrome.