Article

PURPOSE: To report physical, psychological and functional outcomes from a pilot
study of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme for post-polio syndrome
(PPS). METHOD: Twenty-seven participants completed the nine-day programme and
were available for re-assessment at three and six months.
Physical outcome
measures were muscle strength and endurance; psychological outcomes included
illness perceptions (IPQ), depression and anxiety (HADS); functional outcomes
were fatigue (HFS) and client-centred occupational performance and satisfaction
(COPM). RESULTS: There was no significant change at six months for muscle
strength or anxiety. Significant improvements were recorded for exercise
endurance, depression and levels of fatigue. A shift towards an endorsement that
the patient's own behaviour could be important in symptom severity of PPS was
seen. Five out of 24 participants demonstrated significant clinical changes in
occupational performance and satisfaction on the COPM. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged
benefits were found for physical, psychological and functional outcomes. A
qualitative study is planned to investigate the patient-reported benefits of
attending the programme such as the support gained interacting with others with
similar disability and in lifestyle adjustment such as pacing of physical
activities.

Langue : ANGLAIS