60 años de la aprobación del título de fisioterapia y de la primera escuela de fisioterapia reconocida, la de Salus Infirmorum en el centro infantil "Casa del Niño" de Madrid / 60 years since approval of the physiotherapy degree and the first recognized physiotherapy school, Salus Infirmorum ubicated in the children's center "Casa del Niño" in Madrid

Se acaban de cumplir 60 años de la aprobación de la especialidad de Fisioterapia para los Ayudantes Técnicos Sanitarios, así como la creación de las primeras escuelas de Fisioterapia. El presente artículo justificará cómo el conjunto de brotes epidémicos de poliomielitis en España, influyeron de forma decisiva en el nacimiento de profesiones sanitarias como la Fisioterapia. Por otro lado, se reconstruirá el proceso de institucionalización, nacimiento y desarrollo en sus primeros años de la Escuela de Fisioterapia Salus Infirmorum, la primera en ser aprobada por el Ministerio de Educación. Salus Infirmorum, con la creación del centro infantil "Casa del Niño" consiguió aunar la formación de fisioterapeutas y el tratamiento de niños con problemas motóricos como consecuencia de la poliomielitis. En el centro se atendió a más de 680 niños y se formaron en ella 373 enfermeras fisioterapeutas, siendo reconocido como Obra de interés social, por la Comisaría de Asistencia Social del Ministerio de Educación Nacional, en orden 6 de junio de 1958

Sixty years have passed since approval of the Physiotherapy specialty for licensed practical nurses, as well as the establishment of the first Physiotherapy Schools. This paper will explain how the set of epidemic outbreaks of poliomyelitis in Spain, had a decisive influence on the birth of health professions such as Physiotherapy. On the other hand, throughout it, the process of institutionalization of Salus Infirmorum, the first Physiotherapy College recognized by the Ministry of Education, its birth and its first year’s early development will be reconstructed. Salus Infirmorum, with the creation of the children’s center "Casa del Niño" managed to combine the physiotherapists training with the treatment of children with motor disorders as a result of poliomyelitis. In the healthcare center, more than 680 children were attended and 373 physiotherapist-nurses were trained, being recognized as a Social Interest Group, by the Social Assistance Commission of the Ministry of National Education, in order June 6, 1958

Nurse Irene Shea studies the "Kenny method" of treatment of infantile paralysis, 1942-1943.

In the 1940s nurses in the United States set out to learn the Kenny method of treating polio patients, which relied on hot packs and muscle strengthening exercises instead of the standard system of prolonged immobilization. Named for Sister Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian nurse who based herself in Minnesota during the 1940s and early 1950s, and viewed with suspicion by many physicians, nurses, and physical therapists, the treatment nonetheless proved effective. It changed the practice of polio nursing and the experiences of patients in the years before vaccine prevention largely eliminated paralytic polio.

Trumpets of attack: collaborative efforts between nursing and philanthropies to care for the child crippled with polio 1930 to 1959.

The purpose of this historical inquiry research was to explore (a) the relationship of nursing and foundations focusing on polio from 1930 to 1959; (b) the employment and educational opportunities arising from the polio epidemics for white and black nurses, as well as the obstacles encountered; (c) the role of nursing leaders in the care of the crippled child; and (d) the effects of the resolution of the polio epidemics resulting from the polio vaccine on public attitude and on the philanthropic organizations. Relevant journals, primary and secondary sources, and personal interviews were the methods used for data collection. Because of the extraordinary community support for work related to polio, nurses were able to obtain support from foundations. This support resulted in employment and educational opportunities for bedside nursing, primarily for white nurses. Middle and upper class fear of polio enabled the development of powerful and successful private organizations to supplement the available governmental services. This research illustrates the advances that nursing has made and reminds nurses to develop and maintain strong praxis relationships, alliances with philanthropies, referrals for clients with local organizations, and a strong voice in the planning arena.

Barriers that further disablement: a study of survivors of polio.

This exploratory study of polio survivors was undertaken to clarify current level of function, comorbidity, and secondary conditions and to discover the relationships between perceived barriers to health, functional limitation, comorbidity, secondary conditions, and disability in a small convenience sample. Given the underrepresentation of research in the literature explaining the health status, perceived function, and barriers to health in this disabled population, a descriptive study with correlation was conducted. Thirty-one individuals living with the effects of polio were surveyed. Disability was correlated with perceived barriers to health but not with functional limitations, comorbidity, or secondary conditions. Secondary conditions were correlated with the number of years living with the illness. The findings support a model of disablement and allostatic load. Further research is needed to test these models and to provide direction for nurses caring for those aging with the effects of polio.

Another look at polio and postpolio syndrome.

Polio survivors will likely be accessing the health care system because of acute and/or chronic conditions as they age. Therefore, they will again be interacting with health care professionals, especially orthopaedic and rehabilitation nurses. A comprehensive understanding of polio and postpolio syndrome will give orthopaedic and rehabilitation nurses the knowledge they will need to help polio survivors and their families achieve their highest potential and quality of life.

Sister Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian nurse, and treatment of poliomyelitis victims.

PURPOSE: To analyze the strategies that Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian nurse, used when trying to obtain medical endorsement for an innovation that was not based on knowledge of pathology, but was empirically demonstrated. SIGNIFICANCE: When faced with the need to "Do the best you can with the symptoms presenting themselves," Kenny used keen observation to develop a new treatment for poliomyelitis in the early 1900s. Her innovation was to use hot packs to relieve muscle spasms in people with early symptoms of poliomyelitis when orthodox medical treatment included use of splints or casts to immobilize affected limbs. METHOD: Historical case analysis. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Sister Kenny made bold assertions, obtained scientific validation, learned from experience, used publicity, and opposed resistance. Although some strategies were unsuccessful (and Kenny faced many obstacles) medical practice changed in a relatively short time. Immobilization of limbs was largely discontinued in the acute stage of the disease. Kenny persisted in caring for children who otherwise might have sustained deformities.

Power and spirituality in polio survivors: a study based on Rogers' science.

Rogers' model was used to study patterns of power and spirituality in polio survivors (n = 172) and people who have not had polio (n = 80). Participants completed the Power as Knowing Participation in Change Test and the Spiritual Orientation Inventory. Power was positively related to spirituality (r = .34, p < .005). Polio survivors manifested the same power (t = .44, df = 250, p = .33) and greater spirituality than people who had not experienced polio (t = 3.79, df = 250, p < .001), indicating that patterns of human field change are related to surviving polio. Recommendations include replicating this study with other populations and continuing to develop a theory of spirituality within Rogers' framework.

Inmunoprofilaxia de la poliomielitis / Inmunoprophilaxis of poliomielitis

La poliomielitis es una enfermedad viral, generalizada y aguda, que afecta al sistema nervioso central con severidad variable, y a veces se complica con parálisis. Si ocurre esto último, se trata de una parálisis fláccida, generalmente asimétrica, de diversos músculos estriados que a veces se acompaña de trastornos respiratorios y vasomotores. La poliomielitis solamente afecta al ser humano y al no haberse demostrado que en la naturaleza existen reservorios animales, se trata de una enfermedad que puede ser erradicada si se consigue inmunizar el número adecuado de sujetos como para interrumpir definitivamente la cadena de transmisión. Los subtítulos en que se divide el trabajo son: Historia, Agente, Patogenia, Diagnóstico, Inmunología, Epidemiología, Vacunas disponibles, Vacunas inactivadas, Vacuna atenuada, Reacciones diversas, Otros esquemas de inmunización, y Nuevas vacunas

Polio nursing: the fight against paralysis.

Poliomyelitis epidemics occurred in this country with increasing frequency and severity for more than five decades. A frightening, highly contagious disease resulting in devastating paralysis, polio remains prevalent in much of the developing world. This paper describes the pathophysiology, clinical course, and treatment of polio and discusses the essential work of nurses in the years before an effective vaccine was available. The collaborative contributions of nurses, physicians, and scientists are presented.