Key Facts

• Senator Mitch McConnell missed about three months from the Senate due to a fall, hospitalization, and pneumonia.
• McConnell said his recovery is difficult partly because of polio he had as a child.
• Polio can damage nerve cells that control muscles, and survivors often compensate for this damage when young.
• As polio survivors age, their bodies may lose the ability to compensate for earlier nerve damage.
• Some polio survivors develop post-polio syndrome, causing new muscle weakness and fatigue years later.
• Falls are more dangerous for polio survivors because inactivity can cause quick loss of strength.
• McConnell had several falls in recent years linked to his post-polio condition.
• His recovery includes physical therapy to rebuild strength and avoid future falls.