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What is a spinal cord injury?
A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord, which carry signals to and from the brain. A person with damage to the spinal cord may suffer from loss of sensation and motor function depending on the level and severity of injury. Most injuries to the spinal cord are incomplete and do not sever the spinal cord. Some injuries will allow almost complete recovery. Others will result in complete paralysis.
Damage to the spinal cord can be caused by fractures, compression, or disease:
- Fracture of the spine can displace bone fragments, disc material, or tear into spinal cord tissue causing a spinal cord injury.
- Compression of the spinal cord can damage nerve cells that carry signals to and from the brain.
- Diseases of the spinal cord are rare but can cause spinal cord injury.
Types of spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injury is classified by the level and severity of the lesion.
Above: Specialist neurological physiotherapist facilitating functional grip exercises Level of Injury
A person with an injury ‘high’on the spinal cord will usually experience more difficulties.
- Damage to the neck region usually causes loss of function and sensory impairment in the arms and legs, resulting in quadriplegia.
- An injury to the middle and lower back usually affects the chest and the legs and results in paraplegia. A person with paraplegia will have impairment in the motor and/or sensory function of the lower limbs.
Severity of Injury
The effect of the spinal cord injury will depend upon the severity of the lesion. There are typically two types of lesions associated with a spinal cord injury which include:
- Complete spinal cord injury – a person with this type of injury is completely paralysed below the lesion. This paralysis is associated with an absence of pain, pressure, temperature and sensation.
- Incomplete spinal cord injury - a person with this type of injury may have some loss of movement and sensation below the level of their lesion as there is only partial injury to the spinal cord.
Effects of a spinal cord injury
A person who has a complete spinal cord injury will have paralysis and loss of sensation below the level of injury.
An incomplete spinal cord injury will affect different parts of the body depending on the level of injury.
In addition to loss of mobility and feeling below the below the level of injury, individuals with an injured spinal cord will often experience other complications such as:
- Problems with bowel and bladder function,
- Respiratory difficulties,
- Loss of sexual dysfunction,
- Spasticity (increased reflexes and stiffness of the limbs),
- Neuropathic pain,
- Muscle wasting and weakness
Causes of Spinal Cord Injury
The most common causes of damage to the spinal cord are trauma which include:-
- Road traffic accidents,
- Sports injuries,
- Domestic injuries,
Physiotherapy for spinal cord injury
Physiotherapy for a person with an injured spinal cord should start as soon as possible after injury. People who have suffered from a spinal cord injury benefit from specialist neurological physiotherapy. A spinal cord injury will have a life changing impact on you and those close to you. Our specialist neurological physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk understand that a person with damage to their spinal cord with face considerable challenges throughout their life. Physiotherapy treatment will support and guide you through your treatment working closely with your partners, family and carers. The neurological physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk will focus treatment specifics to your individual needs. Physiotherapy treatment will therefore depend on the level and severity of the spinal cord damage you have received.
Physiotherapy for a complete spinal cord injury
Physiotherapy for people with a complete spinal cord injury will concentrate on maintaining tissue capability increasing muscle strength and maximising potential and promoting independence. Treatment will focus on:
- Increasing muscle strength above the level of injury to reduce muscle weakness
- Maintaining muscle, tissue length and range of movement below the level of injury
- Muscle stretching below the level of injury to help lengthen tight muscles and reduce stiffness
- Regular standing to weight bear and improve function of internal organs
- Exercises to improve balance and confidence
- Teaching wheel chair skills which includes pushing and turning the chair, operating the brakes, and removing the footplates and armrests
- Breathing control and assisted coughing if appropriate to maintain a clear chest
- Teaching transfers (getting in and out of a wheelchair, bed, car, shower/bath and onto and off a toilet) to improve safety and promote independence
- Advice on orthotic devices
- Advice on positioning to help posture and prevent pressures sores
- Improving safety
- Increasing energy levels
- Reducing pain and muscle spasms
- Hydrotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy for an incomplete spinal cord injury
People with an incomplete spinal cord injury present in different ways depending on the severity of the injury. Each person therefore needs individual treatment and continuous assessment. Physiotherapy treatment will concentrate on rehabilitation and returning the individual to their previous physical level as much as possible. Treatment will improve functional abilities and focus on:
- Exercise to strengthen weak muscles
- Reducing contractures by stretching muscles that have become stiff
- Promoting normal movement
- Increasing control of movement of the arms, legs and trunk
- Promoting activities of daily living
- Exercises to improve balance
- Reduce any anxiety that you may have and regain your confidence
- Increase ability to transfer including roll/move in bed/sit/stand
- Exercise to increase stamina and reduce fatigue
- Mobilisation exercises to improve circulation and range of movement
- Advice on effective positioning to increase comfort
- Advice on orthotic devices and walking aids.
- Hydrotherapy treatment.
- Promoting independence
- Improving quality of life
Please call us now to book an appointment on 0330 088 7800, book online or alternatively request a free phone consultation.
