Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome: Not Just a Late-Effect of Poliomyelitis due to Aging (March 2023)

Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome: Not Just a Late-Effect of Poliomyelitis due to Aging

This presentation will focus on the differentiation between the late effects of poliomyelitis and the post-polio syndrome, both conditions involving the anterior horn cell motor neuron. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – another anterior horn cell motor neuron condition often encountered at the PALTC setting – will be briefly compared for neurophysiologic clarity. The severe psychosocial stress of having polio, aging, and the post-polio syndrome will be acknowledged. The discussion will unfold through epidemiology, pathophysiology, natural history, definition, diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation. Emerging practice and gaps in evidence-based knowledge will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this session, learners will be able to:

  • Define the diagnostic criteria for Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome.
  • Differentiate the late effects of Poliomyelitis versus Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome in the context of anterior horn cell motor neurons.
  • Describe the psychosocial aspects of polio survivors and identify the depressive symptoms hidden under the psychological resilience in older adults with post-polio syndrome.
  • Recognize the role of and engage neurorehabilitation service in functional restoration and symptomatic management of poliomyelitis and post-poliomyelitis syndrome.

Dominique Vinh, MD, MBA, CMD

Dominique Vinh, MD, MBA, CMD, is an Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Subacute Rehabilitation Service. Following his medical education at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA, he completed his residency and fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Vinh started his career in Primary Care Medicine, and is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Martha Miller, CRNP

Martha Miller, CRNP, has has over seven years of experience in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation working inpatient and outpatient services including PM&R Consultation Service at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and SAR.

Ali Jafri, DO

Ali Jafri, DO, is a resident physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is in his second year of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program at Johns Hopkins. He has worked under attending physicians as a as rehabilitative consultant at Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as at community skilled nursing facilities. He is interested in promoting the role of PM&R physicians to improve care in post-acute and long-term care settings.

  • 0.75 CME
  • 0.75 CMD Clinical
  • 0.75 MOC
  • 0.50 Pharmacology Hour


Release Date: 03/29/2023   |   Expiration: 03/01/2026

Credit Statements:

Accreditation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

CME Designation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CMD Credit Hours: This CME activity has been pre-approved by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM) for up to 0.75 clinical hours toward certification or recertification as a Certified Medical Director (CMD) in post-acute and long-term care medicine. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent on the activity.

The CMD Program is administered by the ABPLM. For further information, contact ABPLM at 410-992-3117 or at cmd@paltc.org.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 Medical Knowledge MOC points and patient safety credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Pharmacology: This activity satisfies the requirements of 0.5 Pharmacology Hour(s) for Nurse Practitioners.

Financial Disclosure Statement:

The Association requires the disclosure of all speaker/faculty/planner’s relevant financial relationships; presence of off-label use of a device or medication; and discussion of any experimental, new or evolving topic prior to each accredited education activity.

If the learner perceives any bias toward a commercial product or service, advocation of unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or recommendation, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients please report this to the Association's staff.


The following speaker(s) disclosed relevant financial relationship(s): 

  • Julie Gammack, MD, CMD (Planner & Speaker): Stockholder: Amarin
  • Kenya Rivas Velasquez, MD, CMD, FAAFP (Planner & Speaker): OptumRx: Stockholder
  • All other planners, speakers, and AMDA staff have no relationships with ineligible companies.

All relevant financial relationships have been identified and mitigated.

Components visible upon registration.