Decades after the poliomyelitis epidemics in Australia, the aftermath of the disease is now becoming evident in our ageing ‘polio population’. An estimated 400,000 people may be experiencing the Late Effects of Polio (LEoP) or Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). In addition, there is a younger population who have migrated to Australia who require management and support. There are many cross-overs in the treatment and management of other chronic diseases and LEoP/PPS, and there are also some very significant differences. If LEoP is not identified, the client can experience rapidly worsening symptoms due to inadvertently incorrect care. Do you know how to recognise these conditions in your practice?
Upcoming Workshop Dates and Venues
More locations and dates to be announced soon.
If you are interested in attending or hosting a workshop, please email us at [email protected].
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For many LEoP/PPS clients, biomedical and pharmaceutical treatments have limited efficacy. Polio survivors are turning their attention and hopes to allied health practitioners to help them improve their quality of life, and prolong their daily functional ability as they age. With a holistic approach to care and increased awareness within the greater health sector, LEoP/PPS clients can manage their symptoms, live better, and age well.
Each workshop will cover the following topics in an interactive format:
- What is polio? A brief history of polio in Australia. The pathophysiology of poliomyelitis.
- Demystifying Late Effects of Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome Understanding the clinical signs and key screening questions for people who have a history of Polio.
- Clinical presentation and screening: Understanding the clinical signs and key screening questions for people who have had a history of Polio.
- The Aging Polio Population: Joining the dots of problems experienced in LEoP / PPS clients.
- The Management Team: Who and when to link in with Medical and Allied Health Professionals to manage the condition.
- Practical Strategies used by physiotherapists, orthotists, and various other allied health professionals to address key concerns such as managing pain and fatigue, and help with stability and avoiding falls.
- A Late Effects of Polio Case Study Q&A with local polio survivors and team care simulation
Quality Education
Workshops offered by Polio Australia are developed and driven by best-practice research emerging from Europe and the USA. Paul Cavendish, Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a neurological background, with vital contributions from ‘lived experience expert’ polio survivors.
Polio Australia wishes to build a complement of skilled and knowledgeable ‘polio’ practitioners across many different modalities around Australia to further increase awareness and standardise care provision for polio survivors.
As such, attendees complete a short assessment at the conclusion of the event, receive a certificate of attendance, and earn 2.5 CPD hours. After completing this training they can nominate as a preferred ‘LEoP Practitioner’ on the Polio Australia Interdisciplinary Post-Polio Health Professionals Register.
Who should attend?
Allied and other health practitioners such as: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, exercise physiologists, nurses, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, social workers, case managers, and anyone else who is interested in knowing more about the post-polio body. See more about the post-polio interdisciplinary care team here.
Clinical Practice Resources
As a thank you for attending, and to further your education, participants receive a complementary copy of Polio Australia’s “The Late Effects of Polio: Managing Muscles and Mobility” (PDF, 100 pages).
These manuals are fantastic ‘go to’ resources for any health professionals who are already working with LEoP clients, and for those who wish to enhance their expertise in chronic disease management.
