Muscle Disuse Atrophy
Dr. Bruno’s Post: Disuse muscle atrophy does not happen to everyone who is less mobile.
Polio and PPS has absolutely nothing to do with the muscles. PPS muscle weakness has to do with damaged and dead anterior horn sales that can no longer run the muscles.
Polio survivors have been driving a four cylinder car that used to have eight cylinders at 80 miles an hour for 40 years. Obviously the cylinders are going to give out. Exercise is like driving that car at 120 miles an hour! Dealing with more than 6,000 polio survivors for over 30 years I can tell you that I have never seen disuse atrophy but have seen marked increases in strength with less use of overused muscles.
Polio survivors are amazed that when they use the brace or crutches or even a power wheelchair their legs get stronger! Actually it's the anterior horn cells that are being given a rest.