Self-regulation treatment of post-polio cold limb.
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.
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000150:complications*