2008.0453

Spinal jacket and leg support for polio sufferer, designed to support their body and leg.

Production date

1940

Labels

Polio is an intestinal infection which can, in severe cases, result in irreversible paralysis as the virus invades the central nervous system. Here the virus destroys motor neuron cells required to stimulate muscle contraction, resulting in partial to complete paralysis. In the instance of paralysis spinal jackets were provided to aid with mobility. Despite the social stigma which surrounded these devices in the mid-20th century, they proved invaluable to those whose muscles had atrophied too severely to walk unaided.

This spinal jacket was owned in 1940 by the uncle of the donor and was used to support his body and leg.