International Polio Life Library: Articles

 

ARTICLES ABOUT POLIO LIFE

Polio is eradicated in many areas , but polio survivors are everywhere — diverse, multigenerational, and still navigating complex needs. RCWDA amplifies their voices by turning survivor knowledge into powerful articles that inform, advocate, and keep their stories alive.

 

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Post-Polio Syndrome: A Silent Sequela Challenging Medicine

Understanding the Long-Term Impact of Post-Polio Syndrome

Person using a motorized wheelchair moving independently along an outdoor path, representing long-term mobility, autonomy, and life with a chronic condition. By Rotarian Dr. Carles Fontcuberta
      Rotarian Dr. Martha Castilleja

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a late-onset condition that affects individuals decades after an initial poliomyelitis infection, often emerging quietly and without immediate recognition. In this article, Dr. Carles Fontcuberta and Dr. Martha Castilleja explore the clinical, neurological, and social dimensions of PPS, highlighting its progressive nature and the challenges it presents for both patients and healthcare systems.

Although global efforts have brought the world closer to eradicating polio, the long-term consequences of the disease continue to impact millions of survivors. PPS illustrates how the effects of past health crises can persist across decades, requiring ongoing medical attention, awareness, and research. Its symptoms, ranging from severe fatigue to progressive muscle weakness, often overlap with other conditions, making diagnosis complex and frequently delayed.

Beyond its clinical aspects, PPS raises important questions about long-term care, accessibility, and quality of life. The article emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches, patient-centered care, and greater awareness among professionals and society. As we move forward in global health, PPS serves as a reminder that eradicating a disease does not necessarily mean ending its impact.

 
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A Psychologist’s Guide to Understanding Post-Polio
Syndrome

What Psychologists Should Know Before Providing Psychological Therapy to a Polio Survivor

By Professor Michael Kossove

A psychologist meeting a polio survivor for the first time may hear about depression, anxiety, frustration, anger, loss of independence, relationship problems, or difficulty coping with physical limitations. These are legitimate psychological concerns—but in a polio survivor, they may be only part of the story.

Before beginning therapy, the psychologist should understand Post‑Polio Syndrome (PPS) and the unique history of the person sitting in front of them.

PPS is not simply "getting older," and it is not a psychological disorder. It is a neurological condition that can appear decades after the original poliovirus infection. Common problems include new muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, decreased endurance, and sometimes difficulties involving breathing or swallowing. The CDC estimates that PPS affects approximately 25–40% of polio survivors.

For the psychologist, this distinction is extremely important.

The survivor may be having a psychological reaction to a physical reality—not imagining the physical problem.

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They Never Saw My Wheelchair

They Never Saw My Wheelchair Before They Saw Me

By Rotarian SanjGraphic poster titled "FRIENDSHIP BEFORE LABELS" by Sanjeev Agnihotri, featuring a side-by-side comparison of a group of friends over time. On the left, a vintage photo shows five young men smiling while eating ice cream outside an ice cream shop. On the right, a present-day photo shows the same group of older men sitting around a restaurant dinner table raising their glasses. In the center, a silhouette of friends against a sunset is paired with the text: "DIFFERENT TIMES, DIFFERENT PLACES, SAME FRIENDSHIP." Below the title, text reads: "Almost Five Decades of Friendship, Belonging & Inclusion" and "Some People Make Life Richer."eev Agnihotri

What almost five decades of childhood and college friendships taught me about friendship, belonging, inclusion and the values that shaped my life.

I know LinkedIn is not usually the place where we share the most personal parts of our lives. Most of us come here to talk about our work, professional achievements, leadership, ideas and causes we care about. Today, I want to make an exception. I want to talk about friendship.

The two photographs I am sharing with this article represent almost four to five decades of my life. One takes me back to friendships that began in childhood. The other represents friends from my college days. Looking at these photographs brought back countless memories, but it also made me realize something much deeper. These people helped shape the person I am today.

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Thoughts Of A Non Polio Survivor 

Why I Am A Strong Advocate for Polio Survivors — Even Though I Never Had Polio
 

By Ken Masson,A medium shot of a male advocate speaking into a microphone at a podium during an outdoor rally for polio awareness and eradication. He stands on the left side of the frame, addressing a crowd of attendees. In the crowd on the right, several polio survivors are visible, including a woman in a wheelchair holding a sign that reads "I AM A POLIO SURVIVOR" (rendered in mirror image) and a seated man resting his hands on a crutch. Other audience members hold signs supporting polio eradication, with American flags and an outdoor stage area blurred in the background.

Past President, 

Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy (RCWDA)

I am a strong advocate for supporting people who are polio survivors, but sometimes people ask me what my interest is because I never had polio. This is my answer in an article format
Every October 24, the world celebrates Rotary’s fight to end polio. But for me, World Polio Day is also about the millions of survivors whose lives were shaped by the disease long after the virus faded from public attention.
I never had polio. I never faced paralysis, braces, or the long road of rebuilding a life. Yet I am committed to supporting survivors — because polio didn’t end when transmission stopped. Many live with weakness, fatigue, chronic pain, mobility challenges, and post-polio syndrome. 
 

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Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome

The Crossword Puzzle of Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome

An infographic titled "Polio Post-Polio Syndrome" surrounded by colorful puzzle pieces, illustrating symptoms and mobility aids including braces, crutches, rehabilitation, wheelchairs, respiratory problems, cold intolerance, muscle atrophy, and sleep apnea.

By Professor Michael Kossove

Post-Polio Syndrome, or PPS, can sometimes feel like a crossword puzzle that nobody gave us the answers to. We know many of the clues. We recognize some of the symptoms. We can see the patterns. But putting all the pieces together has taken decades—and, for many polio survivors, the puzzle is still being solved.

For those of us who lived through polio, the first part of the story began long before anyone had heard the words Post-Polio Syndrome.

During the great polio epidemics of the 1940s and 1950s, the immediate concern was survival. Poliovirus could attack the nervous system and damage motor neurons, leaving some children and adults with paralysis, weakened muscles, breathing problems, and permanent disabilities. The medical community concentrated on getting patients through the acute illness and helping them recover as much function as possible

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