THE KENNY TREATMENT FOR INFANTILE PARALYSIS

A Comparison of Results with Those of Older Methods of Treatment

¹ New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital, New York

1. Forty-eight patients with infantile paralysis in 1941 have been treated by the methods of Sister Elizabeth Kenny of Australia, with encouraging and significant results when compared with twelve patients treated by older methods.

See table in the pdf file.

2. The presence of the symptoms of muscle spasm, mental alienation and incoordination in the acute stage of the disease has been verified.

3. The important rôle of untreated muscle spasm in forming muscle contractures and producing deformities has been demonstrated.

4. Treatment by means of bed rest in a natural position, hot moist packs, passive motion, and muscle re-education has proved successful in relieving these early symptoms when given as Sister Kenny has described.³

5. Immobilization by casts or splints is not necessary for the protection of weak muscles or to prevent deformities, and is actually harmful in prolonging muscle spasm and preventing the use of the Kenny routines.

6. Patients receiving the Kenny treatment are more comfortable, have better general health and nutrition, are more receptive to muscle training, have a superior morale, require a shorter period of bed rest and hospital care, and seem to have less residual paralysis and deformity than patients treated by older conventional methods. The Kenny treatment is the method of choice for the acute stage of infantile paralysis.

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