In this article, we’ll explore 23 fun things to do with a quadriplegic, ranging from accessible sports to artistic hobbies and tech-based games. These activities are designed to support independence, boost confidence, and most importantly—bring a little more joy into everyday life.

Fun Activities for People with Quadriplegia or Paralysis

Before we get into the activities, it’s important to understand that your loved one is so much more than their disability.

Quadriplegia refers to paralysis of the arms and legs. However, depending on the severity of one’s spinal cord injury, quadriplegia can range from mild to severe. Similarly, depending on the location of one’s SCI, quadriplegia may only affect certain parts of the arms. For example, someone with a C8 spinal cord injury may have normal shoulder, elbow, and wrist movements but experience weakness in the hands while someone with a C4 injury can be paralyzed from the neck down.

Remember, quadriplegia presents itself so differently in each individual, so don’t assume that your loved one will or will not be able to participate in a specific activity. Most activities can be adjusted so that your loved one can participate, so consider the individual’s interests and hobbies.

Without further delay, let’s jump into the activities!

1. Singing

Following a C5 or higher level spinal cord injury, individuals with quadriplegia may experience diaphragm weakness. However, singing can help increase respiratory muscle strength and control. That makes singing a form of rehab as well as a fun activity for a loved one with quadriplegia.

2. Go to the Movie Theater or Drive-In

Going to the movie theater or a drive-in theater provides a completely different experience than watching a movie from home. Whether it’s a traditional movie theater or a nostalgic drive-in, going out to see a film can be a fun and memorable outing for someone with quadriplegia.

Most modern theaters offer accessible seating, spacious aisles, and companion seats so you can sit together comfortably. If your loved one uses a power wheelchair or manual wheelchair, you can usually call ahead or book online to ensure the best spot.

Drive-in theaters are another great option, especially for those who prefer a more private setting—you can adjust the environment, bring your own snacks, and enjoy the movie under the stars.

It’s a simple yet meaningful way to enjoy quality time together.

3. Attend a Sporting Event

There’s nothing like the excitement of seeing your favorite team play in person. The crowd’s energy, the shared team spirit, and the live action make attending a game a thrilling and unifying experience. It’s a great way to bond, cheer together, and feel part of something bigger.

For individuals with quadriplegia, most stadiums offer accessible seating with great views and space for companions. These areas are designed with ease of access in mind—often near restrooms, concessions, and parking. Be sure to check in advance to reserve accessible tickets and ensure a smooth experience.

Whether it’s a major league game or a local team, attending a live sporting event is a fun thing to do with a loved one with quadriplegia.

4. Take a Scenic Stroll

Staying indoors all day can get stuffy. Consider going outside a little bit every day to get some fresh air. Especially because individuals with spinal cord injuries have a greater risk of osteoporosis, getting your daily dose of vitamin D from the sun will help keep the bones strong.

5. Have a Picnic

Another fun activity with a loved one with quadriplegia? Pack up all your favorite snacks and have a picnic! This is a great way to get a change of scenery and spend quality time together. Plus it offers an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

6. Visit a Museum, Aquarium, or Zoo

Museums offer an enriching way to explore history, art, science, and culture. If you’re more of an animal lover, aquariums and zoos can provide a fun and sensory-filled experience for a quadriplegic. In addition, many of these venues are fully wheelchair-accessible and offer companion assistance, sensory-friendly hours, and hands-on exhibits designed for all abilities.

It’s the perfect mix of fun, learning, and adventure—all in one accessible outing.

7. Check Out Your Local Farmers Market

Going to a farmers market is a completely different experience than going to your typical grocery store. There are lots of fresh and unique items, so it’s a great opportunity to be adventurous and try something new. It also provides the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the local activities which is always a bonus!

8. Throw a Social Event

A social event such as a trivia or game night draws upon the interests of the person living with quadriplegia. It provides a fun way to get friends and family together and enjoy each other’s company. You can easily adapt the setup to ensure comfort and accessibility, and even include virtual guests via video chat.

9. Bowling

Heavy objects and paralysis don’t sound like a very good match, but bowling is a fun activity that can be easily adapted for people with quadriplegia. For example, the individual could use a bowling ramp and push the ball forward.

10. Photography

Plan a photoshoot with your loved one! Coming up with an idea, picking out scenery and outfits, staging, taking the photos, and editing them is an immersive experience that promotes creativity and helps reduce stress.

11. Horseback Riding

Horseback riding at an equestrian center that offers therapeutic riding for people with disabilities is a fun activity that can help improve balance after a spinal cord injury. One person will guide the horse while another will walk alongside the individual with quadriplegia to ensure their safety.

12. Go to the Pool

Getting into a pool is another fun activity for individuals with quadriplegia. Water has unique properties that can help promote mobility. For example, buoyancy makes you feel lighter, helps keep you afloat, and reduces pressure on the joints.  

Additionally, individuals with quadriplegia can use products like noodles, floaties, belts, vests, and boogie boards for extra support.

If swimming sounds appealing to you and your loved one with quadriplegia, try to find a therapist/rehab clinic with a pool where you can get some guidance on safety before doing this on your own.

13. Handcycling

Individuals with greater mobility in their arms may enjoy handcycling. It’s just like bicycling, except you pedal with your arms. If the person with quadriplegia struggles with gripping functions, they can use special gloves and an elbow lever brake.

14. Pottery

Pottery is a fun and creative activity that individuals with quadriplegia can partake in to develop their hand functions. The resistance of the clay can help strengthen the hand muscles and improve control.

15. Paint/ Draw/ Color

Other creative activities include painting, drawing, or coloring. Individuals with quadriplegia who struggle with gripping objects can use a universal cuff. Practicing these activities can help maintain full range of motion in the wrists and improve fine motor skills.

16. Try Out the MusicGlove

The MusicGlove offers another fun activity for individuals with quadriplegia. This engaging computer/tablet game turns hand therapy into a fun, interactive experience by combining music, gaming, and rehabilitation. Designed for individuals with weakened hand function, it keeps users motivated while encouraging the high-repetition movements essential for recovery. In fact, it’s clinically proven to improve hand functions in just 2 weeks!

17. Play an Instrument

Learning to play an instrument is a great way to improve hand functions. For example, individuals can practice spreading their fingers apart and pressing the keys of a piano, or gripping onto a pair of drumsticks and beating the drums.

18. Cooking

Cooking is another fun activity that can help individuals with quadriplegia develop their upper extremity functions. For example, mixing ingredients together can help develop strength while decorating a pizza with toppings practices fine motor skills.

There are tons of adaptive cooking devices that can allow people with disabilities to do things safely in the kitchen. If you’re having trouble finding the right items, talk to your occupational therapist to get ideas.

19. Card Games

Playing card games can help someone with quadriplegia develop a wide range of motor control in their hands. Tasks can include shuffling the deck, picking a card out of a pile, or hitting a card. There are even special card holders if your loved one is having trouble holding the cards!

20. Jenga/ Board Games

Board games are a fun activity that can encourage spinal cord injury patients with quadriplegia to practice pinching their fingers together to grip small items and develop dexterity.

21. Gardening

Planting flowers, vegetables, and fruits can become a great source of purpose for many people. It offers something to look forward to and a reason to get outside every day. Similar to spinal cord injury rehabilitation, gardening requires daily commitment and patience.

If you have the means, consider getting a raised garden bed/elevated planter if your loved one is not able to reach or get down to the ground to help.

22. Try a FitMi Workout

Finally, our last fun activity for a loved one with quadriplegia is a FitMi workout. FitMi is a full-body rehab device designed to turn exercise into an interactive game—making therapy feel more like play than work. It has been clinically proven to be 3x more effective than traditional therapy alone. In addition, the FitMi adapts to your ability level and encourages you to push a little further with each session.

For individuals with quadriplegia (especially those with some upper body mobility), a FitMi workout can help stimulate movement, build strength, and improve range of motion. Best of all, you can do it from home, at your own pace—making rehab more consistent and enjoyable.

Fun Things to Do with People with Quadriplegia Are Not Limited

Finding fun things to do with your loved one with quadriplegia means thinking about what they would enjoy. As you can see, these activities can generally be enjoyed by anyone and are not limited to people with quadriplegia. As long as the individual with quadriplegia is willing to adjust, they can continue to participate in many of their favorite activities.

We hope you try some of these activities with your loved one.

The post 21 Fun Activities to Do with Loved Ones with Quadriplegia appeared first on Flint Rehab.

However, it’s also important to remember that every spinal cord injury and its recovery are unique. Many factors play a role in determining recovery outlook after SCI, so it’s important to take an individualized approach to rehabilitation.

To help you get a general idea of what to expect following a spinal cord injury, this article will discuss some of the most up-to-date spinal cord injury statistics from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, including:

• What’s the prevalence of spinal cord injury in the US?
• What are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries?
• What’re the most common effects of SCI?
• What determines recovery outlook after spinal cord injury?
• What’s the most common level of spinal cord injury?
• What percentage of people with spinal cord injuries can work?
• What are the most common causes of mortality in patients with spinal cord injury?
• How long does recovery after SCI take?

The Latest Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

Every year, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) releases a report with the most recent spinal cord injury statistics.Their 2023-2024 report and infographics included updated information regarding the prevalence, causes, types, and outcomes of spinal cord injuries that have occurred in the United States. All of the statistics included below come from that report, and there is a multitude of additional data available from their website.

Feel free to use the following links to the NSCISC website to learn more:

• NSCISC Annual Statistical Report (158 pages)
• NSCISC Home Page
• 2024 Facts and Figures At a Glance (NSCISC)
• 2024 Infographic

How common are spinal cord injuries?

According to the annual NSCISC report, it’s estimated that there are about 305,000 spinal cord injury survivors in the United States, with about 18,000 new injuries occurring each year. Males are more likely to experience a spinal cord injury, and account for 79% of all new injuries. 

Interestingly, the average age of injury for SCI survivors has considerably increased in the past 40 years. Currently the average age of injury is 43 years old, while it was just 29 years old in the 1970s. .

What are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries?

Any blow to the spinal column can cause a traumatic spinal cord injury. According to the annual report, the most common causes of SCI since 2015 include:

• Auto accidents (37.5%)
• Falls (31.7%)
• Violence (primarily gunshot wounds) (15.4%)
• Sports accidents (8.0%)
• Medical/surgical injuries(3.7%)
• Other causes (3.8%)

The above SCI causes account only for traumatic spinal cord injuries.When a spinal cord injury is not caused by an outside force exerting pressure on the spinal cord, but rather is due to internal factors such as gradual wear and tear from increasing age, it is referred to as a nontraumatic spinal cord injury.

What are the most common effects of spinal cord injury?

The most common effects of a spinal cord injury are impaired motor control and sensation. The spinal cord is the passageway that connects sensory and motor nerve signals transmitted between the brain and muscles. Following a spinal cord injury, those signals may not be able to pass through the damage, resulting in loss of motor control and sensation.

Depending on the severity and location of the spinal cord injury, the outcomes of SCI can vary from mild to severe. Individuals with higher level spinal cord injuries, such as a cervical injury, may experience loss of sensation and/or motor control throughout much of their body, including the arms and legs. However, individuals with lower level injuries, such as a lumbar injury, may experience loss of sensation/motor control in their legs, but usually retain their upper body functions.

In addition, individuals may experience complications that arise as a result of impaired motor control and sensation, including:

Respiratory complications

Pain

Weight gain

Spasticity/muscle tightness

Depression

Anxiety

Loss of bladder and bowel control

Sexual dysfunction

Body temperature dysregulation

Increased sweating

Pressure sores

What determines recovery outlook after spinal cord injury?

The severity of a spinal cord lesion significantly affects recovery outlook. Spinal cord injuries are often classified into complete or incomplete injuries.

An incomplete SCI refers to a spinal cord lesion that partially damages the spinal cord and does not affect all connections between the brain and areas below the level of injury. In contrast, a complete SCI refers to a lesion that cuts all the way across the spinal cord. As a result, no connections between the brain and areas below the level of injury exist.

Because damaged neurons in the spinal cord are not capable of regeneration, spinal cord injury recovery heavily depends on connections between the brain and areas below the level of injury unaffected by SCI to facilitate adaptive changes.

According to data gathered since 2015, about two thirds of all new spinal cord injuries are incomplete. These injuries can further be divided by how much of the body is affected, with tetraplegia affecting the arms, legs, and trunk and paraplegia affecting just the legs and possibly the trunk. 

When categorized by the neurological level and severity of injury, the NSCISC annual report found the following:

• 47.4% of survivors had incomplete tetraplegia
• 20.0% of survivors had incomplete paraplegia
• 19.7% of survivors had complete paraplegia
• 12.3% of survivors had complete tetraplegia
• 0.5% of survivors had no neurological problems at time of hospital discharge

Fortunately, the majority of individuals with spinal cord injuries experience some form of functional recovery. While rehabilitation for incomplete spinal cord injuries primarily focuses on promoting adaptive changes in the spinal cord, rehabilitation for complete spinal cord injuries focuses on teaching individuals how to be as functional and independent as possible through compensatory techniques. However, researchers are continuing to study how to promote recovery of sensation and motor functions for those with complete spinal cord injuries.

What is the most common level of injury?

The location of a spinal cord injury helps determine which functions may be affected.

The spinal cord is a long collection of nerves that relays sensory and motor signals between the brain and body. It is split into 31 levels based on the number of nerve pairs branching out. At each level, nerves branch out and connect to different muscles and sensory tissues throughout the body.

Because signals cannot pass through spinal cord damage, motor signals from the brain cannot reach muscles innervated below the level of injury. As a result, those regions of the body experience weakness or paralysis.  Likewise, sensory stimuli from areas of the body below the level of injury cannot reach the brain, resulting in loss of sensation.

According to the NSCISC report, cervical spinal cord injuries are the most common, followed by thoracic spinal cord injuries and lumbar SCIs. The most spinal cord injuries occur at the C4 and C5 level, respectively accounting for 15.7% and 14.8% of all new injuries.

What percentage of people with spinal cord injuries can work?

Some individuals are able to return to work after spinal cord injury. However, it’s important that you return to work only when you are able to manage the effects of your injury and feel ready to do so. Individuals should be educated about their workplace rights, including  knowing how to advocate for and utilize appropriate accommodations. The following statistics show most common occupational statuses of SCI survivors 1 year after injury:

• 53% were unemployed
• 13.8% were students
• 12.9% were working
• 8.8% were retired

Statistics also show that as time increases, the percentage of unemployed decreases. By 5 years after initial injury, 21% of individuals were working, while unemployment dropped from 53% to 44.9%.

Most common causes of death after SCI?

Higher-level spinal cord injuries (C5 and up) can disrupt lung capacity and breathing. The C3-5 segments of the spinal cord innervate the diaphragm, which is essential for inhaling and exhaling. When diaphragm function is impaired, the lungs can’t expand as much, which makes it challenging to breathe and cough. As a result, respiratory complications, such as pneumonia, are the most common cause of death in spinal cord injury patients.

Based on the NSCISC data, the leading causes of mortality in individuals with SCI include:

• diseases of the respiratory system (21.4%)
• infective/parasitic diseases (12%)
• abnormal cell growths, called neoplasms (10.9%)
• hypertensive and ischemic heart disease (10.3%)
• other heart disease (8.3%)

Lack of motor control and sensation following SCI can increase one’s risk of developing chronic conditions. By making healthy lifestyle choices such as eating a healthy diet, finding ways to be more physically active, and quitting smoking, individuals can significantly improve their outcomes.

How long does recovery after SCI take?

It’s a commonly held belief that individuals with spinal cord injuries only have up to a year to recover and after that, they’re as good as they’re ever going to get. However, that’s not true, and many SCI patients continue to recover years following their injury.

Neuroplasticity is the central nervous system’s ability to make adaptive changes based on our behaviors. The reason why the most significant functional recovery is typically observed early after an SCI is because the central nervous system experiences a heightened state of plasticity the first 6 months or so following a spinal cord injury.

However, that does not mean that neuroplasticity goes away. As long as you have an incomplete spinal cord injury and continue to consistently practice affected movements, you’ll stimulate the spinal cord and reinforce demand for those functions. While movements may feel uncomfortable or weak at the beginning, repetitive practice will help rewire and strengthen the neural connections for those functions, and gradually, they will feel more comfortable.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics: Key Takeaways

Every spinal cord injury and its recovery are unique, so it’s essential to take the statistics in this article with a grain of salt. What is definite, however, is that the spinal cord is capable of making adaptive changes and improvements are possible.

We hope this article helped you understand that SCIs can affect anyone at any age, and that many people are able to recover after injury and have a high quality of life.

The post Spinal Cord Injury Statistics: Understanding Potential Outcomes appeared first on Flint Rehab.

To help you develop a better idea of how individuals can incorporate more physical activity into their lives after SCI, this article will share 5 activities for spinal cord injury patients and their therapeutic benefits.

Best Activities for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Depending on the level and severity of injury, participating in activities involving physical movement after a spinal cord injury can be challenging. However, it is important for individuals to regularly engage in active tasks to promote improvements and/or maintain current functions.  

Every movement stimulates the spinal cord, which can help promote adaptive changes in the central nervous system. When there are existing neural pathways left intact at the level of injury, as is the case with incomplete spinal cord injuries, working on improving strength and motion in the affected areas of the body may lead to functional improvements. Among individuals with both complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries, higher physical activity levels can also help improve circulation, mood, sleep, and many other essential bodily functions.

Below is a list of some of the best activities for those with spinal cord injuries. However, this is not a conclusive list. Ultimately, you should participate in activities that you enjoy because those are the ones that will encourage the most movement in the long-term.

1. Go to the Pool

Practicing movements in a pool is an excellent activity for spinal cord injury patients because water provides buoyancy. Buoyancy is the upward force exerted onto any object submerged in water. This is what makes you feel weightless when you’re in a pool.

As a result, individuals with spinal cord injuries can practice walking without placing too much pressure on their joints. Additionally, the natural resistance of water can help strengthen and tone the muscles.

Further benefits include improved circulation from the pressure of water on the body, as well as loosened muscles and pain relief if exercising in warm water.For a more intense pool activity,  consider trying water aerobics. Start by working with a physical therapist in the pool (aquatic therapy) to learn safety tactics before attempting this on your own or with a local group.

2. Practice Yoga

Following a spinal cord injury, communication between your mind and body gets disrupted. A primary focus of yoga is finding the connection between your mind and body, which makes it an ideal activity for spinal cord injury patients.

Additionally, yoga can be modified so that individuals with paralysis can safely participate in it. For example, the exercises can be performed from a wheelchair or on the floor. Furthermore, most yoga practices emphasize moving within your own limits, which can encourage individuals with varying physical abilities to participate.

There is also a large mental component to yoga, which may involve visualization, mindfulness, and/or meditation. In fact, studies have shown that practicing yoga can help individuals with spinal cord injuries reduce depressive symptoms and improve self-compassion, in addition to improving functional outcomes.

3. Try Adaptive Sports

Individuals with spinal cord injuries who were previously very active may miss participating in recreational sports. Adaptive sports provide an excellent way for both children and adults alike to participate in team or individual sporting events, such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis or adaptive track and field. 

In addition to the physical benefits of adaptive sports, individuals may also experience psychosocial benefits from being part of a team and meeting others with similar life experiences. Studies have also shown individuals with spinal cord injuries who participate in adaptive sports report an improved quality of life.

Recently published guidelines on physical activity levels for adults with spinal cord injuries recommend at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, as well as 3 sets of strength exercises for each major functioning muscle group, twice per week. Joining an adaptive sports team could be a great way to start working toward that goal. 

Check with your local hospital or a nearby rehabilitative hospital to learn more about adaptive sports opportunities in your area.

4. Create Artwork

Individuals with more severe higher level injuries may have a hard time participating in many physical activities. However, creating artwork can be a great way to maintain and build muscle while also expressing oneself. There are many adaptations individuals can use, allowing almost anyone to create works of art.

For example, individuals who have lost use of their arms and hands could paint by holding a paintbrush in their mouth, or on a computer with an eye gaze device. Those who have limited hand movement could use a paintbrush with a larger handle or attach the paintbrush to a universal cuff. Painting on an easel can allow individuals to work on shoulder motion and strength, while creating a smaller, intricate painting can help individuals practice and perfect fine motor precision.

Other forms of artwork, such as molding clay or woodworking, can help individuals build fine motor strength. If you feel comfortable, consider joining a local art group. Since art is such a wide, subjective field, the possibilities are endless.

5. Practice Exercises with FitMi

Gamified rehabilitation devices, such as the FitMi Home Therapy Program, are gaining popularity. Practicing exercises with FitMi is an excellent way to encourage physical activity for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

By interacting with sensorized pucks, individuals are challenged to accomplish a certain number of repetitions within a given time frame. FitMi can even adapt to your ability level, and it can track your progress to show where you’ve improved. 

With 40 therapist-recommended exercises that target the hands, arms, core, and legs, FitMi is an ideal rehabilitation device for individuals with any level of spinal cord injury.

Learn more about FitMi Home Therapy »

Additional Activities for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

The activities outlined above are simply the tip of the iceberg. Other beneficial and engaging activities for spinal cord injury patients may include:

• Horseback riding: Horseback riding can be very beneficial for individuals with  lower-level or milder injuries. Some individuals may even choose to participate in horseback riding through hippotherapy for personalized recommendations on how to work toward managing leg spasticity, gaining core strength, and improving balance. 
• Musical pursuits: Some individuals, especially those with cervical spinal cord injuries, experience respiratory difficulties. Practicing singing can be a great way to exercise the muscles involved in respiration. Dancing, playing the drums, or walking in rhythm to a song are other ways that music can promote physical activity for spinal cord patients.
• Archery: One of the first sports to be used as a remedial exercise for individuals with paraplegia, archery trains the arms, shoulders, and trunk muscles, which is proven to help restore the ability to sit in an upright position with little to no support. Those who lack sensation in the upper body can also participate in archery by using a specialized glove or extension splint.

As you adjust to life after a spinal cord injury, it may be challenging to visualize yourself participating in some of your favorite activities. With adaptations and modifications, many activities are possible for individuals with spinal cord injuries. If you’re having trouble, talk with your occupational therapist about specific activities and/or adaptations that may be best for you.

What Are the Best Activities for Spinal Cord Injury Patients?

The best activities for spinal cord injury patients are the ones that they’ll actually want to do!

You may need to adjust how you do it, but a spinal cord injury should not discourage you from participating in all your favorite activities. Participating in the activities you love will help you stay positive and relieve stress after spinal cord injury.

We hope you explore some of the activities shared in this article to promote your SCI recovery.

The post Activities for Spinal Cord Injury Patients That Promote Recovery appeared first on Flint Rehab.

To help motivate you on the road to recovery, we’ve put together a list of 6 things every individual needs to know for a successful recovery.

We hope this article inspires you with a fresh perspective.

1. Things Get Worse Before They Get Better

Before spinal cord injury recovery takes place, your spinal cord may go into spinal shock. This occurs when the body sends out a bunch of powerful chemicals to stabilize the spinal cord after trauma.

The chemicals (or immune response) can cause your spinal cord to swell, which affects the amount of blood and nutrients that it receives.

Remember, your blood is filled with oxygen to fuel your cells and allow the body to function properly. This swelling can limit blood flow in the spinal cord resulting in loss of control of some movements.

Don’t worry, this is temporary! Healing takes time.

Once the swelling dies down, some functions that were affected may gradually start to return.

2. Spinal Cord Injury Recovery is Possible

The spinal cord is made up of a bunch of neural pathways that connect your brain to your body. In a spinal cord injury, these pathways are damaged which is why you may experience weakness or paralysis. However, there is hope!

Neuroplasticity is your central nervous system’s ability to rewire itself. This is the most important concept you need to understand about spinal cord injury recovery.

The spinal cord is capable of learning, forgetting, and relearning functions. Chances are, your spinal cord injury did not completely transect your spinal cord.

Some pathways may have been spared (although, they might be a little traumatized). Fortunately, these spared pathways are your greatest hope for recovery.

Neuroplasticity works through these spared pathways. They can create new connections to the brain so that you can recover lost functions. 

Performing lots of repetitive movements is the best way to activate neuroplasticity.

The more you practice moving (massed practice), the stronger the pathways get, and the more natural movements become during spinal cord injury recovery.

3. It’s Never Too Late for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Drawing by Demitri Martin

Sometimes, weeks or even months, may pass without seeing any improvement. This is completely normal because spinal cord injury recovery does not progress in a straightforward path.

After a traumatic event, like a spinal cord injury, the spinal cord enters an optimal period of learning.

This typically lasts about 6 months and explains why the most recovery is observed during the early periods following a SCI.

However, this does not mean that your ability to relearn goes away. The spinal cord will always be able to adapt and learn, so if you’re willing to put in the effort, we believe it’s never too late for recovery!

Many patients see improvements years following their injury. Recovery is all about consistency and trusting the process.

4. Your Mental Health is Just as Important as Your Physical Health

Spinal cord injury recovery is both a physical and mental journey. Your mental state affects your physical state just as much as your physical state affects your mental state.

Think holistically. Your mind and body function best when you eat well, exercise regularly and get quality sleep.

But sometimes life gets chaotic and overwhelming, and your schedule falls off track. Remember that’s not the end of the world, and to pick back up where you left off.

5. You are Not Alone

You don’t have to go through spinal cord injury recovery on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your friends and family want to see you get better.

If you ever feel like your loved ones just don’t understand what you’re going through, then consider joining a spinal cord injury support group. There, you’ll be surrounded by lots of people that have been in your situation. You can help each other out by sharing experiences. Joining a support group is also a great way to gain access to a plethora of information and helpful resources.

If you can’t find a spinal cord injury support group near you, consider joining an online support group or forum. Technology makes it easier than ever to communicate with others when you don’t even have to leave your home!

6. Hope and Positivity are Essential for Recovery

Be an opportunist! Spinal cord injury recovery can provide you with a new sense of purpose. Dwelling on the past will hold you back. Think in the present and envision a positive future.

This doesn’t mean you have to find all new hobbies and forget about the things you loved before. However, you do have to be open to adjusting or relearning new ways to do things.

Accept your situation and figure out what you can do from now on to make things work.

Spinal cord injury recovery is a long journey and not every day is going to be easy, but as long as you keep going, your hard work will pay off. We highly recommend documenting your progress through pictures, videos, or journal entries to remind yourself where you started and how far you’ve come.

Hopefully, this article inspired you to continue working hard towards your recovery.

Spinal cord injury recovery may just be the most rewarding experience of your life, so stick to it!

For an extra motivation boost, check out these spinal cord injury recovery stories!

The post Finding Hope for Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury appeared first on Flint Rehab.

Physical therapy helps individuals with paraplegia improve their mobility through highly repetitive, task-specific exercises. These exercises are designed to increase range of motion, strengthen the muscles, and improve overall physical function.

To help you understand the importance of physical therapy for paraplegia rehabilitation, this article will review spinal cord injury recovery and the various processes involved.

Goals of Physical Therapy for Paraplegia 

Physical therapy for paraplegia primarily focuses on improving lower body mobility through repetitive, task-specific exercise. Exercise can be performed by individuals with paraplegia regardless of the level or severity of the injury.

Spinal cord injury recovery relies heavily on neuroplasticity, which is the nervous system’s ability to rewire itself and create new connections. By consistently practicing weakened movements, the spinal cord will perceive a demand for that function and adapt by rewiring and strengthening its neural pathways. Over time, this can improve performance of motor functions and increase independence with daily activities.

There are three major factors that influence neuroplasticity:

• Intensity involves how many repetitions you perform, how long you train, and how much you’re challenging yourself. The higher the intensity, the greater the recovery outcome. It is important, however, to allow for sufficient recovery time between exercise sessions.
• Specificity is necessary because the training of one function doesn’t necessarily transfer over to other functions. Every movement fires a different set of neural pathways in the spinal cord. This means it is important to practice the smaller, task-specific movements necessary for individual skills in addition to practicing bigger movements.
• Timing is essential because the most recovery typically occurs during the first six months following a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord temporarily experiences a heightened state of plasticity, which makes it easier to relearn functions during this window. However, it’s important to understand that the spinal cord always has neuroplasticity and recovery is possible even years after your SCI.

Physical therapy for paraplegia utilizes these three factors to promote optimal rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. Consistent practice will stimulate neuroadaptive changes in the spinal cord and promote functional improvements. Since we have discussed the basic methodology of physical therapy for paraplegia, let’s now review the various types of exercises physical therapy can consist of. 

Physical Therapy Exercises for Paraplegia

During physical therapy sessions, a physical therapist will assess your functional abilities, create a personalized exercise plan, and guide you through exercises to maximize your mobility. Depending on the severity of your spinal cord injury, physical therapy for paraplegia recovery will involve different types of exercises. Since each individual with paraplegia has unique needs and functional abilities, every exercise plan should be unique as well.

For example, it’s not realistic for someone with no motor control in their legs to practice walking right away. Before this occurs, physical therapy treatment will focus on smaller movements and goals to maximize function and independence. This starting focus might be bed mobility, sitting balance, and flexibility at the beginning of physical therapy. Then, as you progress, treatment may evolve and start to focus on more advanced skills such as car transfers and walking when appropriate.

Physical therapy for individuals with paraplegia will consist of a variety of exercise types to address all aspects of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. In the following sections, we’ll discuss how different types of exercise can help individuals with paraplegia improve their mobility.

Stretching

Many individuals with paraplegia experience involuntary muscle contractions called spasticity. Spasticity occurs due to disrupted communication between the brain and muscles, causing misfiring or spasm of the affected muscle groups. Stretching the legs can help lengthen spastic muscles and minimize pain caused by additional pressure on the joints.

The effects of stretching can last for hours and help prevent injuries during more strenuous exercise. Well-stretched muscles can bear more pressure and achieve full range of motion, which makes it easier to perform more active forms of exercise. Additionally, frequent stretching can help reduce risk of developing further complications from paraplegia, such as muscle contractures.

Passive Range of Motion Exercises

Even if you have no motor control in your legs, individuals with paraplegia can benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapy for those with severe paraplegia typically involves practicing passive range of motion exercises. 

During passive exercise, someone else can move your paralyzed limbs for you. However, most individuals with paraplegia should be able to use their arms to move their legs through their range of motion. Practicing passive range of motion exercises will help prevent joint stiffness, promote circulation, and stimulate the spinal cord. 

Strengthening Exercises

Due to limited motor control in the legs, many individuals with paraplegia become less physically active. Lack of movement and decreased weight-bearing after spinal cord injury can cause the muscles to shrink, known as atrophy. Individuals with muscle atrophy are more susceptible to falls, fractures, poor circulation, and decreased metabolic rate. 

Strengthening exercises are an essential part of physical therapy for paraplegia because they help maintain muscle mass and improve function. Additionally, strengthening exercises can be accompanied by electrical stimulation to help promote muscle engagement and the creation of new motor pathways.

Consistent practice of repetitive strengthening exercise is one of the best ways to improve functional mobility after a spinal cord injury. This does not only include exercises focusing on strength of the lower body, but also the core and upper body. These muscle groups are all vital for recovery for individuals with paraplegia.

Practicing these strengthening exercises at physical therapy and at home will allow you to overcome functional deficits and improve performance of daily activities. Additionally, practicing smaller strengthening exercises for individual muscles or tasks will improve execution of larger tasks such as transfers and walking.

Gait Training

Gait training is a type of physical therapy that focuses on learning to walk again after paraplegia. It often involves the use of supportive devices like parallel bars, walkers, and weight-bearing equipment. Gait training not only focuses on developing coordination and strength in the legs, but also on building balance and stability through the core. For example, you’ll learn how to stand and shift your weight from one side to the other without losing stability, which is a necessary component of walking.

Generally, gait training will focus on improving form and safety during upright mobility. To do this, individuals may use a harness to provide bodyweight support while using a treadmill. Additionally, aquatic physical therapy can be another great option for individuals with paraplegia to practice gait training. Performing walking and other strengthening exercises in the pool allows for buoyancy and increased support while still working against resistance from the water.

As patients improve their form and develop more strength in the legs, they’ll gradually be able to bear more weight through their hips, knees, and ankles. This increased strength and stability allows for more independence with mobility, even if assistive equipment is needed.

The likelihood of regaining the ability to walk after a spinal cord injury depends largely on whether the injury is complete or incomplete.  For example, individuals with paraplegia who have an incomplete spinal cord injury have around an 80% chance of regaining some walking ability through rehabilitation. This number is significantly smaller for individuals with more severe or complete injuries, however.

How Long Do I Need to Participate in Physical Therapy for Paraplegia?

Every spinal cord injury is unique and paraplegia recovery time will vary for each individual. As previously mentioned, intensity, specificity, and time play critical roles in the recovery process.

Individuals must be willing to put in the effort to recover. What many people don’t realize is that the exercises practiced in a physical therapy session are usually not enough to create major, lasting improvements in function. Thousands of repetitions are required to promote neuroadaptive changes in the spinal cord. This means it’s essential to also practice at home between physical therapy sessions.

Interactive neurorehabilitation devices can help motivate spinal cord injury survivors to be consistent with physical therapy exercises at home. For example, the FitMi home therapy system helps target the full body and encourages hundreds of repetitions per half-hour session. Generally, individuals who intensely pursue rehabilitation improve quicker and ultimately require less physical therapy. This often makes it worth investing in physical therapy tools that help motivate a consistent regimen.

It’s also important to understand that recovery is not linear. The spinal cord never runs out of neuroplasticity and individuals can improve years after their injury. Even after periods of no noticeable progress, recovery is possible as long as you continue to practice weakened movements. 

The Importance of Physical Therapy for Paraplegia Recovery 

Physical therapy does not guarantee a full recovery from paraplegia, but it will help stimulate neural pathways in the spinal cord to improve motor function. Highly repetitive, task-specific exercise is essential for promoting neuroplasticity in the spinal cord, and physical therapy will guide individuals through exercises that can help. Additionally, participation in physical therapy helps minimize the risk of complications like stiffness, muscle atrophy, and poor circulation. 

Hopefully this article helped you understand the importance of physical therapy for paraplegia recovery. Through time, consistency, and dedication, individuals with paraplegia can improve function and performance of daily activities to regain independence and improve quality of life.

The post Physical Therapy for Paraplegia: Understanding Goals & Exercise Methods appeared first on Flint Rehab.

After spinal cord injury, these processes can be affected due to damage to the nervous system. However, stimulation of the vagus nerve may be an effective treatment during spinal cord injury recovery to help regulate these bodily functions.

In this article we will discuss how the vagus nerve functions as well as how spinal cord injury affects the vagus nerve. We will also explore the use of vagus nerve stimulation as a spinal cord injury treatment.

What is the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve is the tenth cranial nerve and is the largest of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves that stem from the brain. “Vagus” means wanderer in Latin, which perfectly embodies the way the nerve affects many organs and a wide range of essential body functions.

Primary functions of the vagus nerve include:

1. Decreasing heart rate and blood pressure
2. Regulating respiration (breathing rate)
3. Stimulating digestion
4. Decreasing inflammation
5. Reducing depression and anxiety

The vagus nerve branches off the brainstem in many different directions and innervates numerous body structures. This includes the throat, larynx (voice box), heart, tongue, external ears, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Due to this widespread distribution, the vagus nerve plays a significant role in regulating your parasympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for your “rest and digest” or relaxation functions.

When the vagus nerve is stimulated, its tone increases. High vagal tone allows you to relax by decreasing alertness, slowing down your heart rate, speeding up digestion, and relaxing your bladder and bowel muscles.

What Happens to the Vagus Nerve After Spinal Cord Injury?

The vagus nerve is not directly affected by spinal cord injury because it is not part of the spinal column. The cranial nerves are located above the spinal cord and branch out separately from different areas of the brain. However, many organs and muscles are dually innervated by sensory neurons from the spinal cord and vagus nerve.

Throughout the day, your body switches off between a state of “rest and digest” (parasympathetic response) and “fight or flight” (sympathetic response). These systems prepare your body for more intense periods of activity or arousal and, alternatively, allow the body to return to a relaxed state known as homeostasis.

After a spinal cord injury (typically at level T6 and higher), people are at risk for experiencing autonomic dysreflexia. This occurs when the body overreacts after encountering noxious, or harmful, stimuli to areas below the level of injury.

When the body detects noxious stimuli, the “fight or flight” response is activated, causing a spike in blood pressure, sweating, respiration, and anxiety. In individuals without spinal cord injury, the message about the noxious stimuli would be sent to the brain and the brain would send a signal back to the body telling it to move away from the stimuli. In turn, this would allow the parasympathetic system to take over and help return the body to a state of relaxation.

After a spinal cord injury, this communication pathway is disrupted and the brain may be unable to relay these messages to the appropriate nerves. This prevents the vagus nerve from intervening and inhibits the typical relaxation response.  This means the body is unable to return to a restful state (where blood pressure comes back down, etc.) until the noxious stimulus is removed or resolved.

Can Vagus Nerve Stimulation Promote Spinal Cord Injury Recovery?

There is growing evidence to support vagus nerve stimulation as a spinal cord injury intervention. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is administered through a biomedical device that is surgically implanted under the skin. This device transmits mild electrical currents through the vagus nerve, which then travel to the brain.

While it won’t treat your spinal cord injury directly, vagus nerve stimulation can potentially help regulate the autonomic nervous system to maintain homeostasis. By lowering heart rate, blood pressure, inflammation, and respiration rate, vagus nerve stimulation can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, it increases the release of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine to improve motivation, mood, and reward perception.

While research on the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation for spinal cord injury in humans is still somewhat limited, animal studies have found that VNS can help decrease neuroinflammation. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, this can inhibit pro-inflammatory factors and increase release of anti-inflammatory factors. This helps to boost healing after spinal cord injury and can enhance recovery of motor function.

Additionally, vagus nerve stimulation is an FDA-approved treatment for depression, which is a secondary effect commonly experienced after spinal cord injury. Vagus nerve stimulation can improve your mental and physical health so your body is in the best condition to pursue recovery.

It is important to note that research has shown vagus nerve stimulation to be more effective when paired with rehabilitation therapy. This maximizes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to heal and make new connections. Talk with your physical and/or occupational therapist about what rehab plan and exercises are optimal for your recovery journey.

Side Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation 

Since the vagus nerve affects many bodily functions, stimulation of this nerve can be accompanied by many potential side effects. These side effects are most often present in the early stages of vagus nerve stimulation and generally diminish with time.

Side effects of vagus nerve stimulation can include:

• Voice changes or hoarseness
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Headache or dizziness
• Stomach upset

If these symptoms are persistent following vagus nerve stimulation, it is important to speak to your doctor as the stimulation may need to be reduced. Furthermore, it is necessary to inform your healthcare provider about your VNS implant before undergoing imaging such as MRI.

The Importance of the Vagus Nerve After Spinal Cord Injury

The vagus nerve helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, which allows the body to maintain homeostasis. This nerve is crucial after a spinal cord injury as it can play a role in regulating autonomic dysreflexia as well as involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, respiration, and digestion.

Vagus nerve stimulation can help address and improve mental and physical health, which helps keep secondary effects like depression in check. Additionally, vagus nerve stimulation can include benefits such as decreased neuroinflammation, improved autonomic function, and enhanced motor performance. Vagus nerve stimulation after spinal cord injury is also more effective when accompanied by rehabilitation therapy.

Health is multifactorial and, by adjusting physical factors like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion, spinal cord injury patients can feel more relaxed and motivated to pursue recovery. We hope this article has helped explain the role of the vagus nerve after spinal cord injury as well as the potential benefits of vagus nerve stimulation.

The post Vagus Nerve and Spinal Cord Injury: Can Stimulating the Vagus Nerve After Spinal Cord Injury Promote Healing? appeared first on Flint Rehab.

There are a variety of hand splints that can be used to treat individuals with spinal cord injuries. Below we have listed the most effective and commonly prescribed by therapists. Before reviewing the list, let’s take a look at the benefits of using hand splints to treat a spinal cord injury and the process of determining the best splint option.

How a Spinal Cord Injury Can Affect Hand Function

A spinal cord injury can affect many different functions of the body, including motor movement of the upper extremity. For example, damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis or immobility, depending on the severity and level of injury. The level of injury refers to the location along the spinal cord where damage has occurred. This is the lowest region where full movement and sensation remain.

If the injury was complete, meaning the spinal cord was fully severed, there is no movement or sensation below the level of injury. If the injury was incomplete, it means the spinal cord was partially severed and there is still potential for the neural pathways to have partial function.

Individuals may experience paraplegia (paralysis of the lower limbs) or quadriplegia (paralysis of the upper and lower limbs) after a spinal cord injury. In severe cases, survivors with a cervical spinal cord injury may experience partial or full loss of motor control and sensation in their arms, trunk, and legs.

To compensate for weak or paralyzed muscles of the upper body, survivors can use hand splints for spinal cord injury. Hand splints help support the integrity of the joints by maintaining their alignment and reducing any potential damage to various connecting structures, such as muscles, tendons, and connective tissues.

Splints also helps maintain the normal appearance of the hands by supporting proper positioning. However, to accomplish this, hand splints must be molded to fit the arches and creases of an individual’s hands.

For example, the hands of a survivor with quadriplegia may be more prone to overstretching, stiffness of joints, tightening of tissues, or developing joint contractures due to impaired motor function. Fortunately, wearing proper hand splints after a spinal cord injury can help control and prevent further injury or serious deformities.

Types of Hand Splints for Spinal Cord Injury

A splint is an orthotic device that can be used to protect, support, immobilize or position an injured hand. Splints can either be dynamic, meaning they allow movement, or they can be static which means they are in a fixed position. 

A splint can be recommended by a physician or a rehabilitation therapist. It is typically formed or fitted by a hand therapist, who is an occupational or physical therapist with specialized training in treating the upper extremity.

Depending on the type of splint, they may recommend wearing it during the day, at night, or for a particular task. To increase understanding of wearing a hand splint after a spinal cord injury, below is a description of commonly used splints and their purpose. Ask your therapist to ensure it is safe and suitable for you.

The best hand splints for spinal cord injury include:

1. Resting Hand Splints 

A resting hand splint is the most commonly used hand splint for spinal cord injury. It provides support to the fingers, hand, and wrist. It will be forearm based to allow for a functional position with the wrist stabilized and a slight bend of the fingers. Once molded, straps are placed over the fingers, the thumb to allow for an open web space, and the wrist to keep the splint in place.

The wrist and forearm should be positioned carefully. Clinicians customize splint position based on muscle tone, ability to perform a functional grasp, and remaining active finger motion. A resting hand splint is usually worn throughout the night, with wearing tolerance increasing over a few days.

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2. Wrist Splints

The wrist splint is designed to maintain the wrist in a neutral position to protect against developing deformity. The primary goal of a wrist splint is to prevent overstretching of the wrist extensor muscles and provide a stable base of support for completing tasks. They also can be positioned to have the wrist bent slightly upwards (wrist extension), allowing individuals to use their hands with assistive devices and perform activities such as eating, typing, and pushing a wheelchair.

To wear it, place the thumb into the cut-out. Metal struts are usually positioned on both sides of the wrist and the straps must be tightened firmly to hold the position. Clinicians recommend wrist splints to be worn during the day to increase functional activity participation.

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3. Tenodesis Splints

Tenodesis grasp and release is a mechanism that most individuals have naturally. When the wrist is bent downwards (flexed), the fingers straighten out and feel loose. When the wrist is bent upwards (extended), the fingers curl up together and form a grip. However, when a spinal cord injury impairs the hands it may affect this natural mechanism.

Tenodesis splints are designed to help tighten the soft tissues of the hands that become loose when the muscles are not working properly. They especially help individuals with wrist extensors who lack mobility in the fingers. Tenodesis splints are worn until the natural movement of tenodesis has been achieved to promote a functional grasp. These hand splints are usually worn at night through an alternating schedule.

4. Short Opponens Splints

Short opponens splints help maintain thumb web space, prevent hyperextension, and promote functional hand position. They are tailored to help individuals who have proper wrist extension but an imbalance between the extrinsic and intrinsic finger muscles. Short opponens splints also help facilitate tenodesis by opposing the thumb and preventing it from overstretching when performing tasks.

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5. Long Opponens Splints

Long opponens splints help maintain web space (area between the thumb and index finger) but are used less frequently than other splints. However, therapists may recommend them for specific functional activities while also reminding survivors to be mindful when using long opponens because they can interfere with wheelchair operation.

6. Palmar-Dorsal Splints

After a spinal cord injury, the fingers and/or wrist may increase in tone as a result of the neurological damage. This result decreases the range of motion of the joints in the upper limb. Palmar-dorsal splints can provide the fingers and wrist with a stable stretch. Fingers are placed in the splint first, allowing them to gently stretch as they straighten out. Palmar-dorsal splints are designed to be worn regularly for extended periods of time.

7. Typing Splints

Typing splints are designed to help survivors use a keyboard. Typing on a computer can be challenging after a spinal cord injury, but typing hand splints help stabilize finger positions. Individuals who experience a spinal cord injury can usually remove these splints using their teeth, making them easier to remove without assistance. However, typing splints can only be used on a regular computer keyboard. To use other devices, discuss with your therapist as custom splints may be required.

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8. Finger Splints

To use devices more freely after a spinal cord injury, survivors may benefit from using finger splints. These splints help stabilize the fingers while allowing the tips to be used, such as for touch screen smartphones or tablets.

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9. MCP Splints

Metacarpal-phalangeal blocking (MCP) splints help to promote proper motion of the finger during functional hand tasks. They help redirect, isolate, and increase active motion in weak or stiff joints. Therapists may recommend MCP splints to block motion in an inflamed joint to help reduce pain.

10. Other Splints

Lastly, there are other hand splints for spinal cord injury that are commonly prescribed by therapists depending on the needs of every individual. This can include more specific splints such as elbow extension splints, elbow pillow splints, anti-spasticity splints, and intrinsic plus or minus splints.

While many hand splints provide similar benefits, it’s important to determine the best fit for you. Consult with your therapist to see what hand splints after spinal cord injury are most suitable for your needs and overall goals. Splints can aid in your spinal cord injury recovery, but require the assistance of other therapies to maximize your chances of restoring function.

Hand Splints Combined with Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury

Hand splints are most effective when combined with therapeutic exercises for spinal cord injury. When a spinal cord injury damages the neural pathways used for communication between the brain and spinal cord, it can impair hand function. While in a complete spinal cord injury there may be no unaffected neural pathways remaining, an incomplete spinal cord injury has potential for regaining movement during rehabilitation.

Existing neural pathways can be strengthened and new ones created with the help of neuroplasticity, the central nervous system’s ability to repair itself. However, neuroplasticity is best activated with high repetition of exercises, or massed practice. The more the central nervous system is stimulated, the more neuroplasticity can create and strengthen neural pathways needed to restore hand function.

Therefore, to improve movement and coordination, survivors must practice high repetition of hand exercises for spinal cord injury. Based on the nature of the spinal cord injury, incomplete injuries can expect to make improvement of hand motion and strength. However, individuals with complete spinal cord injuries may not have the same expectations of recovery, but can still benefit from an exercise program to move their upper extremity through full range of motion. This will maintain joint integrity, decrease joint stiffness, and help to prevent pain or discomfort from immobility.

Your therapist can also provide more guidance on which hand therapy exercises and hand splints are appropriate for you. The more you exercise your hands, the higher the chances of improving mobility and overall hand function.

Choosing the Best Hand Splints for Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury can impair various bodily functions, including the ability to use your hands. Survivors may experience weakness or lack of mobility in the hands, which limits the ability to perform daily tasks.

Fortunately, hand splints for spinal cord injury are a treatment option to improve these deficits and strengthen your recovery. With an understanding that splinting is most effective with a customized exercise program, please consult with your therapist to determine which splint option is right for you.

The post Hand Splints for Spinal Cord Injury: How to Choose the Right Fit for You appeared first on Flint Rehab.

However, incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time is not linear, with most survivors experiencing the most significant improvement within the first 18 months; and other individuals may continue to experience incremental improvements years after the initial injury.

This article will discuss some of the best tips in supporting your body and mind during the early healing stages.

Is Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Time Limited?

There is no set timeline for recovery because every spinal cord injury is different and every survivor may experience different outcomes. However, many individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury experience the largest spike in recovery during the first 3-6 months post-injury.

During this early stage, the central nervous system enters a heightened state of plasticity, or learning, as it tries to stabilize itself. Many survivors may see significant improvements in their affected limbs such as increased movement and sensation in their body parts that were previously immobile or lacking sensation.

This spontaneous recovery typically plateaus, or slows down, around 12-18 months. However, incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time is not limited to that first year of heightened plasticity.

There are three factors that can continue improving after this initial phase, and they are the severity of your injury, the level of your injury, and your functional abilities. As you continue in your rehabilitation journey, home modifications and continued strengthening exercises will maintain those improvements.

Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Time

The spinal cord uses neural pathways to communicate with the brain and muscles. When neural pathways become damaged or destroyed by a spinal cord injury, it can result in loss of sensation, immobility, and other secondary effects. 

In a complete injury, the spinal cord is fully severed; meaning there are no existing neural pathways below the level of injury. However, with an incomplete injury the spinal cord is only partially severed and there are spared neural pathways remaining. Spared neural pathways can be strengthened by neuroplasticity, the nervous system’s ability to heal and rewire itself.

The level of spinal cord injury (the lowest region where movement and sensation exist) determines which muscles and neural pathways are recoverable. Neuroplasticity strengthens existing neural pathways and creates new ones, allowing for better communication between the central nervous system and the body.

How to Assist Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Although the spinal cord experiences a temporary heightened state of plasticity after initial injury, it is still capable of rewiring itself even years later. To continuously activate neuroplasticity and optimize your incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time, it’s important to practice high repetition of exercises daily. 

Practicing a skill consistently helps train the nervous system to recognize that skill and strengthen its neural pathways. To increase your recovery time, it’s important to establish a proper rehabilitation regimen. This can include a combination of different therapy exercises such as gait training or hand therapy exercises.

Your therapist is a great resource and can provide you with a suitable rehabilitation plan tailored to your ability level. However, to ensure you stimulate neuroplasticity on a regular basis, it’s important to practice rehab exercises in between your therapy sessions.

To help you stay motivated and achieve high repetition of exercises at home you can use FitMi, an interactive neurorehab device designed to improve full-body mobility after spinal cord injury. FitMi provides you with exercises based on your ability level and the muscle groups you want to target.

Exercising your affected muscles daily is essential to improve function and sustain the gains you’ve made in therapy. However, in addition to exercise, there are other factors that can hinder or promote healing after an incomplete spinal cord injury and affect recovery time. Learning how to manage these factors is important to maximize your chances of recovery.

Factors That Can Affect Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Time

Incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time is not linear because it can be affected by a combination of various factors. While some factors are external, meaning they are out of your control, some factors are internal and can be managed with the proper care.

Potential factors that can affect incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time include:

1. Severity

The severity of an injury often determines an individual’s incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time. Less nerve damage usually means fewer functions impaired. Studies show that if less nerve tissue sheaths are affected, there are better long term outcomes.

2. Stabilization of the Spinal Cord Immediately After Injury

Majority of the damage caused by a spinal cord injury is a result of secondary processes the body uses to stabilize itself. For instance, after a spinal cord injury the immune system releases an inflammatory response to help stabilize the microenvironment and protect the body. This can result in swelling, cell death, and reduced blood flow.

Excess swelling of the spinal cord can cause spinal shock, which refers to a temporary loss of all reflexes, motor control, and sensation below the level of injury. Spinal shock can last up to a few months post-injury. It’s important to seek emergency medical care to minimize these secondary effects and support incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time.

3. Co-Occurring Health Problems

It is important to pay attention to overall health conditions that may arise secondary to the injury and from initial strength loss. Additionally, many survivors deal with chronic pain which can make it challenging to practice therapeutic exercises daily and stimulate neuroplasticity. However, studies have shown that exercise is integral in decreasing overall pain levels and increases brain neuroplasticity.

Additionally, some health conditions to lookout for that can co-occur with incomplete spinal cord injury recovery include:

• Leg swelling
• Pressure sores
• Sleep complications
• Certain medications
• Obesity

These conditions can interfere make your rehabilitation process more challenging if they are not properly addressed. To reduce the risk of increased adverse symptoms and unmonitored health conditions after spinal cord injury, it’s important to seek proper medical care. 

4. Physical Activity

After a spinal cord injury, many individuals may experience paralysis or become sedentary. The lack of mobility can increase the risk of pressure sores and other complications.

Movement after a spinal cord injury is crucial to activate neuroplasticity, increase proper blood flow, and lower the risk of complications. The more you promote movement, the greater chance you have of supporting the early neuroplasticity stages.

Being physically active, 20-30 minutes of moderate-vigorous levels 3 times per week and strength training 2 times per week, also helps to boost your physical and mental health. Increasing physical activity will help with decreasing the effects of co-occurring health problems mentioned above. It also can help create more endorphins (happy hormones) to help decrease severity of anxiety/depression.

5. Well-Balanced Diet

Maintaining a well-balanced diet is essential during spinal cord injury recovery. Healthy, nutritious food provides your body with the fuel it needs to heal and function properly. Different types of foods also affect your mood and energy levels which may interfere with the rehabilitation process.

Additionally, consuming foods with excess sodium (salt) or sugar can increase the risk of developing serious health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which can impede incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet to ensure it is safe for you.

6. Mental Health

Survivors may experience a variety of psychological effects after spinal cord injury. It is natural to feel sad, angry, and depressed. But, who you are does not change after the injury. Having a support system of friends, family, and/or other survivors is crucial in these early stages of recovery.

It is important to remember to approach rehab with a patient and balanced mindset. Incomplete SCI is a life-changing event, and everyone hopes that they will regain all of their mobility and sensations. But the reality is you will gain some, but most likely not all, of those back. It makes it that much more important that you are able to take the time every day to practice your rehab exercises and find other ways to boost your mind and body through adaptive athletics and exercise. Additionally, talking to your doctor about medication and therapy can help you cope and improve your quality of life. 

Taking the time to commit daily to your rehab journey will help you see gains in your strength and endurance, allowing you to live the healthiest and most fulfilled life.

Understanding Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Time

Incomplete spinal cord injury recovery time is different for every survivor and can be affected by various factors including the severity of an injury, a balanced-diet, and mental health status. Fortunately, symptoms and recovery journey can be improved by stimulating the nervous system and activating neuroplasticity, especially in those early months and years.  

To attain your goals, working hard every day to get stronger and learning new ways to manage your daily activities will allow you to be as independent as possible. We hope this article helped you understand how to optimize your incomplete spinal cord injury recovery journey and support healing.

The post Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Time: How to Support Healing appeared first on Flint Rehab.

Factors like medical history, type of spinal cord injury, level of injury, age, and overall health contribute to recovery speed. With so many factors at play, you could be recovering and not even notice it.

To help you celebrate even the smallest signs of recovery from spinal cord injury, we’ve gathered some significant milestones in this article. We highly recommend keeping a recovery journal, as having a log of your progress can help you notice changes that you may otherwise overlook.

Additionally, it’s important to keep an eye on both physical and psychological signs of recovery because both are equally important. This article will discuss both.

Use the links below to jump directly to a specific section of this article:

• What to know before looking for signs of recovery
• How spinal shock can cover up signs of recovery
• Physical recovery signs
• Measuring physical recovery signs
• Psychological recovery signs

What to Know Before You Look for Signs of Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord plays an essential role in movement and sensation throughout the body. Thirty-one pairs of nerve roots enter and exit the spinal cord, spreading out to millions more to transmit messages between the brain and the body. When the spinal cord sustains damage, this communication may be impaired, affecting movement and/or sensation below the level of injury.

Each level of injury corresponds with a specific area of the body. For example, someone who suffers a lumbar spinal cord injury can potentially experience impaired movement or sensation from the lower back and down into the legs.

The rehabilitation process focuses on improving as much mobility and sensation as possible through exercise and movement retraining. Before we dig into the signs of recovery from SCI, however, it’s important to outline the difference between an incomplete and complete spinal cord injury.

With an incomplete SCI, the spinal cord has sustained damage but there are still some connections left intact at the site of injury. Individuals with incomplete SCIs may have impaired movement and/or sensation below the level of injury, but may not have total functional paralysis.

With a complete SCI, the spinal cord has been fully severed and no connections at the site of injury remain intact. Individuals with complete SCIs have no movement or sensation below the level of injury, resulting in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower limbs) or quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs).

Generally speaking, the recovery prognosis for an incomplete SCI is more optimistic than a complete SCI. While there are examples of complete SCI survivors progressing to higher ASIA impairment scales (read more below), a spinal cord from an incomplete injury has a stronger chance of utilizing neuroplasticity to strengthen existing pathways and create new ones.

Therefore, it’s important to ask your doctor for information about the completeness of your SCI, and involve a multidisciplinary care team to maximize your recovery outcomes.

How Spinal Shock Can Cover Up Signs of Recovery

In some situations, an incomplete SCI may be confused or even misdiagnosed as a complete SCI due to spinal shock.

Immediately after a spinal cord injury, your spinal cord may enter spinal shock where the body attempts to heal itself by activating an inflammation response. Spinal shock causes a temporary loss of sensory and motor functions below your level of injury, which resembles the symptoms of a complete SCI.

Spinal shock can persist for days to weeks, but typically resolves around 4-12 weeks. After spinal shock subsides, functions may gradually start to return. At this point, you’ll have a better idea of what functions are or are not affected by your SCI.

Therefore, if you’re looking for signs of recovery from spinal cord injury, it’s helpful to understand symptoms of spinal shock, and that functions may improve on their own as inflammation goes down.

Physical Signs of Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury

Now that you understand how SCI recovery is influenced by the severity of the injury and spinal shock (during the early stages), let’s discuss some of the lesser-known physical signs of recovery from spinal cord injury.

Keep in mind that every SCI is different, and every survivor will experience different signs of recovery and at different timelines. These are not hard rules. Instead, these are general patterns that can be viewed as signs of progress.

An improvement in any single one of these symptoms is a sign of physical recovery from spinal cord injury:

Pain Below the Level of Injury

Surprisingly, pain after spinal cord injury can actually be a sign of recovery.

In order to feel pain, sensory signals below the level of injury must reach the brain. This indicates that the spinal cord injury is incomplete rather than complete; and the prognosis for an incomplete SCI is generally more optimistic.

Between 60 and 80% of all survivors experience pain after spinal cord injury. While this is a sign of recovery, it can significantly impact your quality of life. If you experience pain after SCI, discuss management options with your doctor.

Treatment for pain is dependent on its type, ranging anywhere from musculoskeletal, referred, and neuropathic to pain associated with spasticity. Therapy plays a critical role in pain management and prevention after a SCI, and should always complement appropriate medications and other conservative measures.

Spasticity Below the Level of Injury

Spasticity is another surprising sign of recovery from spinal cord injury. Spasticity is due to disrupted signals between the brain and areas below the level of injury, resulting in hyper-reflexia and involuntary muscle contractions. Spasticity is “velocity-dependent,” which means that the quicker a muscle is stretched or moved, the more severely it will contract.

While spasticity and muscle stiffness are conditions that require rehabilitation in order to improve, they are a sign of recovery. This is because motor signals must be able to pass through the spinal cord in order for muscles to contract at all.

In fact, during spinal shock, muscles initially become flaccid, not only becoming paralyzed but also losing tone (i.e. become “floppy”). Flaccid paralysis is a symptom of a complete SCI because no motor signals are able to reach muscles below the level of injury.

That being said, spasticity can be painful and limit movement if goes unmanaged and worsens. Use the presence of spasticity as motivation to keep stretching and practicing spinal cord injury rehab exercises to help improve motor function.

Tingling Below the Level of Injury

Mild tingling after spinal cord injury can also be a sign of recovery. It means that sensory signals below the level of injury are able to reach the brain, once more indicating an incomplete SCI instead of a complete SCI.

While tingling can be a concern, it’s a stronger sign of recovery than a complete loss of feeling and sensation. Even though sensation might be affected, the presence of altered sensation provides hope that sensory function can improve, especially when rehabilitation is pursued.

When injured sensory nerves are regenerating, altered sensations or paresthesias may be present such as tingling, pins and needles, or even burning. Talk to your therapist about methods to address these paresthesias after SCI, such as electrical stimulation, desensitization techniques, or sensory re-education.

How to Measure Physical Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

There are several ways to measure progress after spinal cord injury. However, use caution when doing so. Fixating on numbers and physical recovery can be disheartening because little improvements between the bigger milestones may go overlooked.

It can be helpful to understand how clinicians measure SCI recovery, but it should not become the end-all-be-all for your recovery goals.

ASIA Impairment Scale

If you’re eager for a way to measure progress, take a look at the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS). There are five categories, where level A refers to no motor or sensory function below the level of injury (complete SCI) and level E refers to full functional recovery.

Spinal cord injury survivors that pursue rigorous rehabilitation can often “jump up” one level on the ASIA Impairment Scale. For example, a survivor with a consistent home therapy program may “jump” from AIS B (sensory function remains, but no motor function exists) to AIS C (up to half the muscles below the level of injury have some motor function).

Often, it takes months or even years of consistent rehabilitation to move up on the ASIA Impairment Scale. This is why it’s more motivating to focus on small milestones than just the bigger ones.

Your Level of Injury

Many spinal cord injury survivors recover at least a couple levels of muscle movement and sensation, which means symptoms may improve from the current level of injury to a lower level of injury. For example, you can recover a T4 injury to a T5 injury, which presents with fewer impaired functions.

Although this may seem like you’re “only” improving one level of injury, it’s actually an incredible sign of progress. If you continue to pursue therapy both with your therapist and at home, that T5 injury may improve to a T6 injury and so on as neuroplasticity is stimulated and function is slowly regained.

Again, sometimes you may not notice the signs of recovery from spinal cord injury because the bigger milestones, such as walking again, but pull your focus from the little signs of recovery right in front of you and celebrate even the small victories.

For this reason, be sure to keep a recovery journal and participate in a home therapy program that automatically tracks your progress, such as FitMi home therapy.

Psychological Signs of Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury

Many survivors and family members focus only on the physical signs of recovery, but the psychological aspects of recovery should not be overlooked. Mental wellness can promote further physical improvement, so it’s important not to prioritize one over the other. Psychological care is essential after spinal cord injury.

Here are some psychological signs of recovery after SCI:

Seeking Therapy or Counseling

A spinal cord injury presents many challenges and unwanted lifestyle changes, such as using a wheelchair or changing careers. This is one of many causes for depression after SCI.

Poor psychological health can impede motivation to pursue physical recovery, which can lead to a downward spiral. Survivors should not feel shame in seeking psychological help, such as psychotherapy or counseling.

In fact, it could be a sign of recovery, because it means you’re ready to take action to improve how you feel about your situation. Ask your doctor or therapist about local support groups that you can participate in with other SCI survivors.

Furthermore, a survey found that 86% of people with quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down) rated their quality of life as average or better than average. It can take time to reach this level of acceptance, but it’s something that many survivors have done and you can too, with the right action.

Setting Small and Big Goals

When you only set big goals, you leave a lot of time in between to get discouraged. Therefore, it’s important to step away from an all-or-nothing mindset and set both big and small goals. Not only does this help with motivation, but it helps you see all the signs of recovery that happen along the way.

Staying Cautiously Curious About Your Doctor’s Prognosis

You should always listen to your doctors and therapists, especially when it comes to medical advice, exercises, and guidance. With that said, it can also help your recovery to stay curious about any limitations declared.

For example, if you have an incomplete SCI but your doctor says that you’ll never be able to walk again — but thanks to diligent research you know that an incomplete injury generally offers more hope for recovery — you can kindly remain curious about what you can accomplish and keep pursuing rehab.

Studies have found that anywhere from 20% to 75% of individuals with an incomplete SCI will recover some degree of walking capacity by 1 year post-injury. Neither you nor your doctor know with certainty whether or not you will be part of that percentage. The only thing you can do is stay curious, be diligent, and keep pursuing rehabilitation.

Tracking Your Unique Signs of Recovery from SCI

Physical and psychological signs of recovery from spinal cord injury build off one another and are equally important. You can promote your best recovery by pursuing both a rigorous home exercise program and also tending to your psychological well-being.

Also, talk to your therapist about the AIS Impairment Scale and keep a record of your progress in a recovery journal. While it can take many months or even years to “jump” up a level, many small milestones occur in between, and they deserve to be celebrated.

The post Signs of Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury: What to Look for & Why It Matters appeared first on Flint Rehab.

What Is the Purpose of an Orthosis for Spinal Cord Injury?

An orthosis for spinal cord injury patients has two primary functions. The first function is to stabilize the spinal column to promote healing at the injury site and the second function is to support the affected body parts for functional rehabilitation.

As a result, wearing an orthosis can help spinal cord injury patients:

• restrict spinal column movements to prevent further damage and promote healing
• correct misalignments and stabilize the spinal column
• combat spasticity and gently stretch tight muscles
• promote proper posture
• reduce weight-bearing and pain at the joints

Types of Orthoses for Spinal Cord Injury

The type of orthosis you wear may depend on the severity and level of your spinal cord injury. Not everyone with a spinal cord injury will need orthoses, but those that do can greatly benefit from the additional support.

Here are the different types of orthoses that spinal cord injury patients may be advised to wear:

Head and Neck Braces

Those with severe higher level cervical spinal cord injuries (C4 and up) may need to wear a halo brace to help stabilize their head and neck. The average head weighs about 10 pounds. A paralyzed neck will not be able to support weight, so a halo brace will help provide maximum support and stability while the spinal column heals. A halo brace consists of a halo that is pinned to the head, a vest, and bars that connect the halo and vest.

Those with less severe cervical spinal cord injuries may wear a cervical collar. Unlike a halo brace, it is non-invasive and is a soft cushion that surrounds the neck to support the weight of the head.

Spinal Brace

A spinal brace provides the additional support to maintain an upright sitting position, prevent further damage, and promote healing. There are several types of spinal braces available for spinal cord injury, including:

• Cervical-thoracic orthosis: stabilizes the neck and upper back for cervial-level SCI survivors or thoracic-level SCI survivors
• Thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis: surrounds your entire trunk and is more often helpful for low thoracic-level SCI survivors and lumbar-level SCI survivors
• Lumbar-sacral orthosis: stabilizes the lower half of the trunk most often for low lumbar-level SCI survivors and sacral SCI survivors

Generally speaking, the higher the level of injury to the spinal cord, the more support the survivor will benefit from. Ask your therapist for recommendations on which orthosis is right for you.

Lower Limb Braces

All spinal cord injury patients experience some weakness in their lower extremities. Regardless of whether you have a cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord injury, a lower-limb orthosis may be useful.

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is beneficial for spinal cord injury patients who have ankle weakness. It provides stability and support to prevent foot drop when you are walking.

Those experiencing paralysis from the knee down may benefit from a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) and those with paralysis of the entire lower body may require a hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis (HKAFO).

Upper Limb Braces

The cervical region of the spinal cord innervates the head, neck, and arms. Cervical spinal cord injuries (injury to the uppermost spinal cord segments in the neck area) may require an arm or wrist brace to manage upper limb spasticity. Those with thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord injuries generally have full upper limb function and therefore will not need an upper limb orthosis.

Serial Casting

Serial casting may help relieve severe spasticity. When applying gentle tension to the spastic muscle over a period of time, the muscles lengthen, which can help increase range of motion.  Affected limbs are recasted weekly for up to 12 weeks so that each time a new cast is applied, the muscle is stretched more than the previous time. Serial casting gently stretches spastic muscles, and also prevents those muscles from additional tightening.

How Long Do Spinal Cord Injury Patients Need to Wear Orthotics?

How long a person wears an orthosis depends on the severity of their injury. Typically, a spinal cord injury patient may wear a spine stabilizing brace for up to 6 months until the spine heals. Your doctor will determine when it is appropriate and safe to gradually decrease the time spent wearing the orthosis.

Ever heard the phrase “use it or lose it”? That’s exactly what happens if you stop using your muscles and rely too heavily on your orthosis. Learned nonuse is when your body gets so accustomed to using the brace that it forgets how to engage your muscles.

The central nervous system is incredibly adaptable and is capable of neuroplasticity (the ability to rewire itself). The damage caused by a spinal cord injury cannot be reversed, but the spinal cord can relearn affected functions (if the injury was incomplete, not complete).

The best way to promote neuroplasticity is through massed repetition. The more you repeat a weak movement, the stronger the neural pathways will get. The movement will gradually become more natural until one day, you won’t need the orthosis at all.

Orthosis for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery: Key Points

Orthoses for spinal cord injury patients help protect the spine, promote healing, aid mobility, and ensure proper form. An orthosis is generally required for short-term support. Prolonged use can result in learned nonuse, so it’s important to stick with a consistent home therapy program to keep recovery going. This is why therapists love to remind us to “use it or lose it!”

We hope this article helped you better understand how orthoses aid in spinal cord injury recovery.

The post Orthosis for Spinal Cord Injury: What They Are & Who They Benefit appeared first on Flint Rehab.