Having a “Good” Leg 

Original Post:  I’m feeling that my so-called “good” leg is not coping and might also need a brace. I’ve read that it takes 35 per cent more extra energy to move around on sticks and with braces. Do others have braced 'good' legs? My friend and fellow survivor got a knee brace on her "good" leg and it’s the best thing ever.

Dr. Bruno’s Response:  Unfortunately there is no "good leg." You may have 80% of normal strength on a manual muscle test in your "good leg" and have it become weaker and more painful because it's:

  • Taking the load for your other leg and

  • Your "good leg" has only 60% of the neurons running the muscles that you were born with because the neurons were killed off by the poliovirus!  

At the Post-Polio Institute, we found that the use of a light weight, composite brace to hold your "good" foot up and give you some push-off, significantly reduces both weakness and pain and normalizes your gate.

Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD

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Transverse Myelitis Being a “Polio Like” Illness 

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PPS Going into “Remission