Decreased limb temperature in the affected limb is one of the aftereffects of poliomyelitis. The decrease in limb temperature can be painful as well as subjectively unpleasant. A search of the current literature failed to reveal a cost-effective treatment for post-polio cold limbs. Since thermal biofeedback and other physiologic self-regulatory therapies have been shown to be effective in increasing peripheral blood flow in a number of disorders, they were used in the treatment of a patient with a post-polio cold limb. The patient showed foot warming during therapy sessions. This effect generalized to situations outside the therapy environment. The patient's self-report also indicated treatment to be successful. Replication and studies of the warming and cooling mechanism are suggested.

PURPOSE:The purpose was to explore the feasibility of whole body vibration (WBV) on polio survivors with/without post-polio syndrome (PPS) by studying its effects on walking speed (10-m walk test), endurance (2-min walk test), pain severity/interference (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]), sleep quality (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), leg strength (manual muscle testing and hand-held dynamometry), and muscle cramping (written logs)

METHODS:Fifteen individuals completed the study, participating in eight sessions in two 4-week blocks. Participants started with ten 1-min vibration bouts/session, increasing to 20 min. Low (amplitude 4.53 mm, g force 2.21) and higher (amplitude 8.82 mm, g force 2.76) intensity blocked intervention occurred in random order crossover design. Blinded testing ensued before/after intervention blocks and at follow-up.

RESULTS:No study-related adverse events occurred. Participants starting first with higher intensity intervention improved in walking speed (p = 0.017). BPI pain severity significantly improved (p = 0.049) after higher intensity intervention. No significant changes were found after low intensity vibration or in other outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS:WBV appears to be a safe exercise for this population. Long-term use in polio survivors needs to be researched, particularly in reducing barriers to participation to promote the physical aspects of health.