Post-Polio Syndrome - Exams and Tests

Exams and Tests

Your doctor will diagnose post-polio syndrome (PPS) only after ruling out all other possible causes of your symptoms. The doctor will ask about your medical history and do a careful physical exam to confirm that you once had polio. There are no lab tests that can be used to diagnose PPS.

A doctor will not diagnose PPS as the most likely cause of your symptoms unless the following four statements are true:

1. Your medical history indicates you had polio, or testing of the electrical activity of certain muscle groups (electromyogram) suggests you had polio.
2. It has been at least 15 years since you had polio, and you have recovered at least some use of the paralyzed muscles since then.
3. You have new muscle weakness, fatigue, pain, decreased endurance, or loss of function in a muscle group, especially in one that was affected by polio.
4. Tests do not find another problem that could explain your symptoms.

There are numerous tests your doctor may want to do to assess whether your symptoms are caused by a medical condition other than PPS. Special tests may be needed if you have problems with breathing, swallowing, or memory. Repeat exams may be needed to diagnose weakness and features of PPS that may not have been evident at your first exam.