Survey of changes in subjective symptoms among Japanese polio survivors over 10 years.
Fumi Toda, Koshiro Sawada, Daisuke Imoto and 4 others
PMID 40263973WHAT IT FOUND
In 65 Japanese polio survivors followed for a median 14 years, reported muscle atrophy rose from 34.5% to 94.8%, fatigue fell from 86.2% to 66.2%, and weakness worsened mainly in lower limbs and the poor upper limb.
Key findings
01Reported muscle atrophy rose from 34.5% to 94.8% and reported fatigue fell from 86.2% to 66.2% between the two surveys.
02Weakness worsened on the good lower side (p=0.013) and poor lower side (p=0.018), and on the poor upper side (p=0.033), but not on the good upper side (p=0.257).
03Fatigue decreased in the younger age group (p=0.011), while muscle atrophy increased in both age groups (p<0.001).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The outcomes were subjective symptoms and graded weakness, so the study could not define actual functional abnormalities. The sample came from one regional support group in Japan, and survivors who did not join the group or were too ill to attend hospital outpatient screening were excluded. Of 95 people mailed the second questionnaire, 65 responded, and 86 had already dropped out of the support group between surveys. The study did not test whether using canes, crutches or orthotics prevents overuse or symptom progression. Participants were older adults with a median age of 72 years at the second survey, so results may not apply to younger polio survivors.
Declared interests
No funding or financial support was received for this study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the rise in reported muscle atrophy or weakness as proof of objective muscle loss or functional decline. The outcomes were subjective, the sample was a selected regional support group, and only 65 of 95 mailed participants responded to the second survey.