Why Does Polio Affect the Legs?

Polio also called poliomyelitis is an infectious disease caused by any one of the three types of polio virus. Between 70% and 95% of people infected with poliovirus don’t have symptoms. Of those with symptoms, most people have the mildest form (abortive poliomyelitis) and flu-like symptoms. The most severe symptoms are seen with paralytic polio or post-polio syndrome, causing serious problems that affect the brain and nerves, and weakness in your muscles (paralysis), usually in the legs. In about 1 in 200 cases, people who have polio become paralysed. The paralysis usually affects the legs and is permanent. Lets take a look at why polio affects the legs.
✅ Facts about polio
- Polio is caused by any one of the three types of polio virus. There are three variations of poliovirus, called wild poliovirus type 1, 2 and 3 (WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3)
- Cases of polio still exist in some parts of the world today. Polio vaccination is essential to the eradication effort. Polio is still a significant problem in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, and there’s a potential risk of infection in other parts of Africa and some Middle Eastern countries
- Two types of vaccine are available: An inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and a live attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV). Inactivated polio vaccine is injected intramuscularly and recommended by the CDC and the NHS. Oral poliovirus vaccine is still used in endemic areas such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Experts now recommend that the OPV not be given and that only IPV be used
- People at high risk of infection with the poliovirus are young children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, elderly people, people with a weakened immune system and people travelling to an area where polio is common or where an outbreak has recently occurred
📝 How does polio spread?
The poliovirus is spread when food, water or hands contaminated with faeces, throat or nasal secretions of an infected person enter the mouth of an uninfected person.
A person may develop symptoms within 3 to 21 days of coming into contact with the virus and will be most infectious 7 to 10 days before and after the beginning of symptoms.
People remain infectious for as long as the virus continues to be excreted in their faeces, which may continue for up to 6 weeks. Typically, the virus remains in the throat for 1 to 2 weeks.
📝 What happens when polio attacks the body?
Nerve cell (neuron)
The nervous system is made up of small units called neurons or nerve cells. A typical neuron has three main parts; a cell body (soma), dendrites (branching fibres) and a single axon. This unit is often described as a tree:
- The axon is a tree root (where neurons talk to each other through an electrical message)
- The soma is a tree trunk (where the DNA lives in the nucleus)
- The dendrites are tree branches (neurons receive messages from other cells)
A myelin sheath covers neurons to insulate and protect them.
Why are the legs commonly affected by polio?
When poliovirus infects your body, it affects a specific type of nerve cell called motor neurons. Motor neurons carry messages (electrical impulses) between your brain and your muscles, directly controlling all voluntary muscle movements throughout the body, including walking, breathing and fine motor skills, like writing and drawing. It is the final pathway for the brain to initiate movement by stimulating contractions.
Poliovirus particularly affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord. A polio infection often damages or destroys many of these motor neurons, preventing movement, particularly in leg muscles, significantly affecting your ability to walk. This could lead to falls and other complications.
📊 Types of polio
Poliovirus infection is classified into four main types based on the severity of the disease and its symptoms. As mentioned earlier the legs are generally affected by paralytic polio and post-polio syndrome. Lets take a deeper look into the other symptoms of polio.
Symptoms of abortive poliomyelitis
Abortive poliomyelitis symptoms are a mild form of polio, affecting most people that contract the virus. Flu-like symptoms start three to seven days after getting infected and last a few days. Symptoms of abortive poliomyelitis include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Sore throat
Symptoms of non-paralytic poliomyelitis
Non-paralytic poliomyelitis starts with the same symptoms as abortive poliomyelitis, then symptoms progress onto:
- Neck stiffness
- Pain or pins-and-needles in your arms and legs
- Severe headaches
- Sensitivity to light
Symptoms of paralytic poliomyelitis
Paralytic poliomyelitis starts out with symptoms similar to abortive poliomyelitis or non-paralytic poliomyelitis. The polio virus then goes onto attack the brain and spinal cord, causing paralytic poliomyelitis. Symptoms include:
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle pain
- Spinal poliomyelitis, preventing movement of arms or legs or both (paralysis)
- Bulbar poliomyelitis, which makes it hard to breathe, swallow and speak. If the breathing muscles are affected, it can be life threatening
- Bulbospinal poliomyelitis has symptoms of both spinal and bulbar polio
Post polio syndrome (PPS)
Most people who have had polio fight off the infection without even realising when they are infected. Other people however go on to develop post-polio syndrome symptoms that appear decades after the initial polio illness. It is not clear why some polio survivors develop post-polio syndrome while others do not.
It has been suggested that in some people, after initial infection, the remaining nerves and muscles in the body have worked harder to compensate over the years. This has resulted in nerves becoming exhausted and even dying, forcing the nerves and muscles that are left to work even harder. This gradual change can explain why it can take years for post-polio syndrome symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of post-polio syndrome usually develop gradually over time, these include:
- Extreme tiredness
- Progressive muscle weakness
- Muscle atrophy (muscles shrinking in size)
- Muscle and joint pain
These symptoms can be debilitating and affect quality of life severely.
🏥 How post-polio syndrome is treated
There is no cure for post-polio syndrome, but support and a range of treatments are available from your healthcare provider to help manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Some of the ways that symptoms of post-polio syndrome may be managed include:
- Physical therapy/physiotherapy to help with any movement problems and build up muscle strength
- Devices such as splints and braces to support weak limbs or joints
- Mobility aids such as walking sticks or scooters
- Weight control and healthy eating – to avoid putting unnecessary strain on muscles and joints
- Medication for muscle or joint pain
- Psychological support
🩺 When should I see my healthcare professional?
Contact your healthcare provider if you’ve been exposed to polio and have symptoms, especially if you aren’t vaccinated. If you have questions about getting vaccinated or getting your child vaccinated speak to a healthcare professional.
📝 Conclusion
Polio is a disease that severely affects motor neurons in the body, causing a range of symptoms, particularly problems affecting the legs. However, between 70% and 95% of people infected with poliovirus don’t have symptoms. The most severe symptoms are seen with paralytic polio or post-polio syndrome, usually in the legs. There is no cure for PPS, but supportive therapies can help you manage the condition. Always speak to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms affecting the legs after a polio infection.
Sources
- Post-polio syndrome – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic
- Polio: Virus, Causes, Symptoms, Transmission & Treatment
- Post-polio syndrome – NHS
- Polio – NHS
- Poliomyelitis
- NaTHNaC – Poliomyelitis
- Polio – NHS inform
- Disease factsheet about poliomyelitis
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Can I Trust NowPatient
Our product and services are certified to international healthcare, medical device and data security standards
Medicines Experts
Meet our medical team
We are a broad skilled and passionate group of clinicians with experience of operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process
WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
Download our app today

Your Questions Answered
For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly
What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.
Get started today and benefit from medication reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS online pharmacy, GP appointment booking, Rx savings card, Drug Coupons, US drug savings programs, health conditions information, genetic testing, home test kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.
UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.
US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111