Quality of life in athlete and non-athlete Poliomyelitis survivors

Introduction A significant number of patients after recovery from the initial attack of poliomyelitis virus, experience new symptoms, over the years. Given the importance of healthy active life in poliomyelitis survivors and the need to enhance the functional capacity of these people, the present study designed to compare the quality of life in athlete and non-athlete Poliomyelitis survivors.

This study is a descriptive and analytical research, and the study population of this study were all of the poliomyelitis survivors in Kerman. A total number of 28 people (19 Female & 9 Male) with the history of poliomyelitis and average age of 36.61±8.23 were purposefully selected and allocated to the athlete and non-athlete groups and were compared according to their Quality of life questionnaire (FS-36). Data were analyzed using independent t-test at significance level of P≤ 0.05.

Result showed that there was a significant difference in Physical functioning (P= 0/002), Role limitations due to physical health (P= 0/04), Energy/fatigue (P= 0/04), Pain (P= 0/03), and General health (P= 0/04) between active and non-active groups, while there was no significant difference in Role limitations due to emotional problems, Emotional well-being, and Social functioning between two groups. In addition, a significant difference was observed between Physical health of two groups, but the difference in the case of Mental health was not significant.

People with a history of poliomyelitis who have regular physical activity, are more physically healthy and less suffer from functional disorders. Improving their health through exercise programs can play an important role in increasing the life quality of people with poliomyelitis.