How does paralysis affect the body

Family Practitioner. Continue Learning about Physical Disabilities What sports are disability-friendly? Challenge America. Wheelchair basketball, hand cycling, sled hockey, and swimming are the most developed adaptive sport How do I get a handicapped parking permit or placard? While most people may think that the condition is caused by an injury to a body part, that is not always the case. Paralysis occurs because of a nerve damage. A person who is injured in the lower spinal cord may be unable to move the lower limbs.

This occurs even when the rest of the body is very healthy. According to scientists and doctors, stroke is the leading cause of paralysis. This is because it can injure the brain and prevent the spinal cord from transferring signals. The main symptom of paralysis is the inability to move part of your body, or not being able to move at all. They may refer you to a hospital specialist for more tests if they're unsure what's causing your symptoms.

These problems could be a sign of something serious that needs to be treated in hospital straight away. Paralysis can have a big impact on your life, but support is available to help you live as independently as you can and have the best possible quality of life.

One to two percent of infected persons develop severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck and back. Less than one percent of polio cases result in paralysis.

Complications include paralysis, most commonly of the legs. Paralysis of the muscles of breathing and swallowing can be fatal. There are three types of polio virus. Lifelong immunity usually depends on which type of virus a person contracts. Second attacks are rare and result from infection with a polio virus of a different type than the first attack.

There are two types of polio vaccine: trivalent oral polio vaccine tOPV , given by mouth, and inactivated polio vaccine IPV , given as an injection. The recommended schedule for childhood immunization is for IPV to be given at two, four, and six to 18 months of age and between four to six years of age.

Adults traveling to countries where polio cases are occurring should review their immunization status to make sure they are immune. In New York State, polio vaccine is required for all children enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs and schools. Maintaining high levels of polio immunization in the community is the single most effective preventive measure.