Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) refers to damage to the spinal cord, which is part of the central nervous system that transmits messages between the brain and the rest of body. Spinal cord damage can result in complete or incomplete loss of sensory and/or motor functions below the injury level.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Traumatic causes: falls from height, road traffic accidents, sports injuries
- Non-traumatic causes: tumours, degenerative or vascular conditions (ischaemia), inflammation
Extent of SCI-related impairment depends on the severity of the injury (complete or incomplete) and the location of the injury(cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral) in the spinal cord
Spinal Cord Tumours
- Primary: Tumour may arise from any structures of the spine or originate within the spinal cord itself
- Metastasis:
- Usually from carcinomas of lung, breast, prostate, kidneys or lymphoma
- Most common at thoracic level, followed by lumbar level and cervical level
Transverse Myelitis
- Neurological condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord
- Causes:
- Idiopathic
- Systematic inflammatory autonomic disease, e.g. SLE
- Central nervous system diseases, e.g. multiple sclerosis
- It usually affects both sides of the body and is associated with a band–like sensation around the trunk.
What are the impacts of spinal cord injury?
Depends on the severity and level of injury, patients with SCI can experience the following conditions:
- Motor: Progressive limbs weakness or paralysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia), spasticity, balance deficits, gait disturbance
- Others: Difficulty in breathing (upper cervical level injury) -> Can lead to respiratory complications, e.g. pneumonia
- Spinal pain
- Sensory: Altered sensation, e.g. numbness, loss of proprioception
We address the key impairments in SCI patients to help improve mobility, functions and quality of life.
Our Physiotherapy Management for SCI Patients
- Rehabilitation Considerations
- Depend on stability of spine, pain and changes in neurological status
- Treatment goals (conservative or surgical)
- Provide spinal stability
- Address existing impairments
- Optimise daily functioning and independence
- Prevent or manage complications
- Improve quality of life
SCI Physiotherapy Management
- Exercise to maintain/improve joint mobility and power e.g. stretching, gym training
- Locomotion Training e.g. walking aids, exoskeleton
- Balance training e.g. weight shifting for body or posture
- Prevent other complications e.g. chest physiotherapy, positioning, carer education
- Upper limb training e.g. grasping exercises
- Functional Training e.g. bed mobility and transfer training with Sara Plus