| Polio Echo Newsletter Article |
Polio Echo
Arizona's First Support Group Dedicated to Polio Related Issues
Post Polio Relates Story of New Therapy
by: Mary Martin
Recently I had a very interesting with Barbara of Phoenix who had polio when she was five years
old. She is now 39 years old and has used a motorized chair since she was in her twenties.
During the last five years she has experienced extreme fatigue, loss of stamina, pain in both
arms, and she cut way back on her general activity level.
In March, 1990 she experienced a major downhill slide of her condition; her right arm was
practically non-functional, respiratory function was decreased, and her posture was sinking
(x-rays revealed that the rod in her spine was still intact); she was in pain constantly and no
medication helped. By this time she was unable to transfer, get dressed by herself , drive and felt
she could no longer be independent.
Barbara learned about a somewhat non-traditional therapy through a therapist here in the valley
who practiced this therapy. It is called Chronologically Controlled Developmental Therapy and is
practiced by Ed Snapp, a physical therapist (who had polio himself in 1943) who runs the
Neurophysical Health and Restoration Centers in Columbus, Mississippi. Barbara was a bit
skeptical but after discussing the therapy with her father who is a pediatrician and also with her
orthopaedic surgeon, she decided to try this therapy program. It couldn't do her any harm and
would at least help her to rest and relax.
She and her husband traveled to Mississippi where they stayed in a wheelchair accessible
mobile home right at the clinic. She began an intensive program of six to seven hours of passive
therapy every day of the week. The therapy consisted of a specifically controlled sequence of
hydrotherapy, massage, sensory stimulation and exercise in an environment designed to
enhance the relearning and recovery of function.
Six days later when Barbara's husband left to come home, she was able to dress herself,
transfer and basically live on her own again. And her pain was gone! Her posture was more
upright and muscles were working that hadn't worked in years. After 28 days therapy and a cost
of $10,000, Barbara felt she had gotten her life back again. She went to the clinic hoping to get
relief from pain and stop the downward progression of her says she has "tremendous energy."
She now follows a home therapy program here in Phoenix and says she is still seeing
improvements daily in her posture and strength. She can now sit on the floor without any support
where before a slight breeze was enough to knock her over.
Both Barbara's father and her orthopaedic surgeon who saw her before the therapy are totally
amazed at the changes which have taken place. I spoke to her father, who describes himself as
conservative, medically speaking, who does not lean toward non-traditional therapy. He
describes the changes in his daughter as a miracle. When she left Phoenix, she shook his hand
and the handshake was weak and her arm wobbly. When she returned, her father thought he
was shaking hands with Arnold Schwarzenegger! He knows the therapy worked on Barbara and,
of course, can't predict what it might do for others; but he did say, "If I was a post polio, I'd dig up
the money and get myself down there." He has met Ed Snapp and had numerous conversations
with him and says the man is neither a charlatan no a money grabber.
Barbara is the first post polio to go through Ed Snapp's clinic. The treatment format was
designed about three years ago, but no patients were looking for physical therapy. As most of
you know, physical therapy was not considered a viable treatment for Post Polio Syndrome. One
success is not conclusive evidence that this therapy will help all post polios, But Barbara wanted
to share her story because she feels that if more post polios would have similar results, the
medical profession might be less skeptical about this treatment and also the insurance
companies might begin to pay for such treatment.
Arizona's First Support Group Dedicated to Polio Related Issues
Post Polio Relates Story of New Therapy
by: Mary Martin
Recently I had a very interesting with Barbara of Phoenix who had polio when she was five years
old. She is now 39 years old and has used a motorized chair since she was in her twenties.
During the last five years she has experienced extreme fatigue, loss of stamina, pain in both
arms, and she cut way back on her general activity level.
In March, 1990 she experienced a major downhill slide of her condition; her right arm was
practically non-functional, respiratory function was decreased, and her posture was sinking
(x-rays revealed that the rod in her spine was still intact); she was in pain constantly and no
medication helped. By this time she was unable to transfer, get dressed by herself , drive and felt
she could no longer be independent.
Barbara learned about a somewhat non-traditional therapy through a therapist here in the valley
who practiced this therapy. It is called Chronologically Controlled Developmental Therapy and is
practiced by Ed Snapp, a physical therapist (who had polio himself in 1943) who runs the
Neurophysical Health and Restoration Centers in Columbus, Mississippi. Barbara was a bit
skeptical but after discussing the therapy with her father who is a pediatrician and also with her
orthopaedic surgeon, she decided to try this therapy program. It couldn't do her any harm and
would at least help her to rest and relax.
She and her husband traveled to Mississippi where they stayed in a wheelchair accessible
mobile home right at the clinic. She began an intensive program of six to seven hours of passive
therapy every day of the week. The therapy consisted of a specifically controlled sequence of
hydrotherapy, massage, sensory stimulation and exercise in an environment designed to
enhance the relearning and recovery of function.
Six days later when Barbara's husband left to come home, she was able to dress herself,
transfer and basically live on her own again. And her pain was gone! Her posture was more
upright and muscles were working that hadn't worked in years. After 28 days therapy and a cost
of $10,000, Barbara felt she had gotten her life back again. She went to the clinic hoping to get
relief from pain and stop the downward progression of her says she has "tremendous energy."
She now follows a home therapy program here in Phoenix and says she is still seeing
improvements daily in her posture and strength. She can now sit on the floor without any support
where before a slight breeze was enough to knock her over.
Both Barbara's father and her orthopaedic surgeon who saw her before the therapy are totally
amazed at the changes which have taken place. I spoke to her father, who describes himself as
conservative, medically speaking, who does not lean toward non-traditional therapy. He
describes the changes in his daughter as a miracle. When she left Phoenix, she shook his hand
and the handshake was weak and her arm wobbly. When she returned, her father thought he
was shaking hands with Arnold Schwarzenegger! He knows the therapy worked on Barbara and,
of course, can't predict what it might do for others; but he did say, "If I was a post polio, I'd dig up
the money and get myself down there." He has met Ed Snapp and had numerous conversations
with him and says the man is neither a charlatan no a money grabber.
Barbara is the first post polio to go through Ed Snapp's clinic. The treatment format was
designed about three years ago, but no patients were looking for physical therapy. As most of
you know, physical therapy was not considered a viable treatment for Post Polio Syndrome. One
success is not conclusive evidence that this therapy will help all post polios, But Barbara wanted
to share her story because she feels that if more post polios would have similar results, the
medical profession might be less skeptical about this treatment and also the insurance
companies might begin to pay for such treatment.
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transmitted in any form without written permission from Futures Unlimited, Inc.