To Brace or Not to Brace? Improving Function
By Wise, Holly H., PhD; Adams, Jenny; Post-Polio Health, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 1-3Publication Date: Summer 2003
Case study illustrates the benefits of using an orthotic brace to provide joint stability, improve function, decrease pain, and enhance energy conservation in people who had recovered from polio. The participant was a 52-year-old male who acquired polio at age 2. The following symptoms were reported at a polio clinic: (1) right ankle and hip pain, (2) difficulty with balance when climbing ladder at work, (3) fatigue after a full day of work, and (4) difficulty sleeping with muscle twitching in the right calf at night. Rehabilitation professionals recommended a plastic ankle-foot orthosis, and the participant’s progress was evaluated after three months. The following changes were noted: (1) decreased ankle pain, (2) decreased knee hyperextension, (3) decreased muscle cramping, and (4) decreased fatigue. After a year, the participant had not lost any strength in the muscles supported by the brace, and his limping was significantly reduced.
Published by: Post-Polio Health International (Website:http://www.post-polio.org)
Post-Polio Health International (Web Site: http://www.post-polio.org )
