Question

In patients with poliomyelitis, motor neurons are destroyed, causing loss of muscle function and even flaccid paralysis. Sometimes recovery occurs because of the formation of axon branches from the remaining motor neurons. These branches innervate the paralyzed muscle fibers to produce motor units with many more muscle fibers than usual, resulting in the recovery of muscle function. What effect would this reinnervation of muscle fibers have on the degree of muscle control in a person who has recovered from poliomyelitis?

Answer 1

This is a viral infection of the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord or nerve cells of brainstem, resulting in temporary or permanent paralysis.common in children less than 5 years, often attacks young adults.

The following picorna group of viruses is known to cause poliomyelitis -

- Brunhilde ( type1)

- Leon ( type 2)

-Lansing ( type 3)

Treatment-

- To prevent deformities from developing.

-To assist returning of muscle power by graduated exercises.

- to reduce disability by appropriate appliance or by operation on joint and muscles.

Treatment Methods-

Early stages (< 3 weeks)

during the stages of onset, maximum paralysis and the stages of recovery the following treatment is recommended, the child is admitted to the hospital ,and supportive treatment is given . The child is put on a ventilator support , if there is repiratory paralysis due to bulbar polio. warm and moist packs are given to the joint and all intramuscular injections are avoidedduring this phase. the affected joints are immobilizrd by plaster splints in functional position to prevent contractures . supportive measures are given for relief of muscle pain and spasm.

Recovery stage( 4 weeks to 18 months) in this stage, the joints are properly splinted through various appliances to prevent or correct the deformities.

During the recovery phase-

-Exercises to increase the muscle mass of the intact muscle fibre.TRICYCLE exercise are ideal.

- Hydrotherapy , warm water pool therapy is found to be very effective during this phase.

PNF techniques.

Orthotic support should be provided to children who attempt to walk and bear weight .

- The important to regular check -up and treatment.

- After 6 months to 1 year graded resistive exercise, preferably during the activities of daily living greatly improves the resistance and srenght of the existing muscles

- Swimming, jogging, walking and other aeronic exercises