Arm Cycling to Improve Fitness in Polio Survivors

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations state that stable muscle groups should be utilised for exercise in polio survivors and that patients with severe atrophic polio or with recent weakness should not exercise, while March of Dimes (2001) recommend not exercising muscle groups where new weakness is being experienced. Floor or treadmill walking or lower limb cycling may also aggravate pain in those with lower limb weakness and altered lower limb biomechanics.

Training with an upper limb ergometer is likely to be an appropriate form of exercise in patients with good, stable upper limb strength. One small, but well designed, trial of upper limb ergometry over 16 weeks resulted in a 19% increase in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in 10 postpolio subjects exercising 3 times per week (Kriz et al 1992). ACSM recommend using a Schwinn Air-DyneTM four limb exerciser; however this is an expensive and bulky piece of equipment and is unlikely to be feasible for ongoing use by community dwelling polio survivors.

A small upper limb ergometer may be a cost effective, accessible option for exercise for community dwelling polio survivors. A closely monitored and carefully prescribed cardiovascular fitness programme may enable polio survivors, who have gained control of symptoms of fatigue and pain through changes in lifestyle and activity, to increase fitness and perhaps subsequently reduce energy cost of walking.

Inclusion criteria

• A confirmed history of Poliomyelitis affecting at least one lower limb, confirmed by the consultant Neurologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and documented in the medical chart.
• Capable of walking for 6 minutes, with or without an aid or appliance (as reported by the patient).
• Good upper limb strength, confirmed objectively by Quantitative Muscle Analysis (QMA) (Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC)). MVIC scores of 7 out of 10 tested upper limb movements must lie above the 5th percentile of the normal range.
• Completion of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and cleared by medical practitioner as safe for exercise if indicated.
• Aged > 18 and < 75 NOTE: Participants must be resident in Ireland.

Exclusion criteria

• History of unstable cardiac or respiratory conditions
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Oxygen dependence
• Significant upper limb pain (Visual Analogue Scale > 4 or more than 3 specific sites of pain)
• Severe fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale > 5)
• Recent onset of upper limb weakness or severe upper limb weakness (< 5th percentile on more than 3 tested upper limb movements, either reported by the patient or measured using Quantitative Muscle assessment.
• Steroid use in last 3 months
• Use of medications which may influence cardiovascular testing (Beta-blockers etc)
• Pregnant Women