Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Qigong on Cold Intolerance in Patients with Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome

Paulo Eduardo Ramos,Tan Tao,Acary Souza Bulle Oliveira,Márcia Pradella-Hallinan,Gislaine Cristina Abe,Abrahão Augusto Juviniano Quadros

doi:10.4236/health.2017.101004

Abstract

Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) is a disorder in individuals who have had poliomyelitis, characterized by new muscle weakness and often associated with other symptoms, including cold intolerance (CI). Qigong is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique to adjust energy and blood circulation. Objective: To verify the effects and late repercussions of Qigong on CI complaints in PPS patients. Methods: PPS patients (n = 22, 14 females, 8 males; ages 35 - 60) performed Qigong exercises in 40-minute sessions, three times per week, for three consecutive months. They were evaluated at baseline, the end of treatment and every three months for a year using a visual analogue scale adapted for CI (VAS-cold). Results: The systemic VAS-cold scores exhibited significant differences between the baseline, the end of treatment and throughout 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion: The CI scores were low and bearable at the end of intervention and for the following 12 months without activity.

Highlights

Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) is a disorder of the nervous system that affects people who have had poliomyelitis
PPS patients (n = 22, 14 females, 8 males; ages 35 60) performed Qigong exercises in 40-minute sessions, three times per week, for three consecutive months. They were evaluated at baseline, the end of treatment and every three months for a year using a visual analogue scale adapted for cold intolerance (CI) (VAS-cold)
Jan. 4, 2018 weakness added to the residual manifestations of poliomyelitis and is often associated with other symptoms, including muscle fatigue, muscle and/or joint pain, cold intolerance (CI) and sleep disorders [1] [2] [3] [4]

Summary

Introduction

Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) is a disorder of the nervous system that affects people who have had poliomyelitis. 69.8% of individuals with PPS in Brazil exhibit CI. The affected limbs are abnormally cold due to affected sympathetic nerve cells [5]. From the clinical and histological point of view, the pathophysiology of PPS involves dysfunction of the lower motor neurons. Overtraining and dysfunction of the surviving motor neurons causing disintegration of the axon terminals are the main mechanisms that cause PSS. Compensatory mechanisms are activated to induce muscle reinnervation, increasing the size of the motor unit. This phenomenon occurs in partially damaged axons. Exposure to stress contributes to electrophysiological changes that reduce the speed of nerve conduction, which favors early degeneration [7]

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Methods

Results