Monthly Archives: October 2021

Acute Spinal Cord Injury

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Your spine is made of many bones called vertebrae. Your spinal cord runs downward through a canal in the center of these bones. Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is due to a traumatic injury that bruises, partially tears, or completely tears the spinal cord.

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Damage can be due to various causes

People can receive damage to the spinal cord due to an accident, for example a:

  • Motor accident
  • Diving mishap
  • Fall
  • Sporting accident
  • Household accident

Loss of function usually relates to site of Injury

The amount of function lost tends to correspond to the level in the spinal cord where the damage takes place. A break near the top of the neck can mean that even breathing is difficult and that people must use a respirator. People with an injury in the lower neck, however, usually have arm movement but perhaps not finger movement. However they can often drive, work, write etc with the help of specialized equipment.

People with damage to the upper part of the spinal cord are called quadriplegics. People with damage below this level are called paraplegic.

People with injuries in the lower back can have sensation and movement right to the hips. They can usually live totally independently with a minimum of help, as long as they can use a wheelchair and have the necessary alterations to their home, their bathroom and car.

There are many degrees of injury and function loss, which don’t always correspond to the level of the injury on the spine. Sometimes a quadriplegic only sustains partial damage to the spinal cord and can actually walk, though they may have lost other functions. At all levels, there is usually some loss of function in the bowel and bladder.

Some common Health problems

Other problems which can arise for people with spinal cord injuries are:

Frequent urinary tract infections
Kidney stones
Muscle spasm
Pressure sores from sitting in one position for too long without a correct pressure cushion
Wide and rapid fluctuations in body temperature
Some common causes of Spinal Cord Injury

Most spinal cord injuries are caused by accidents.
Loss of function tends to correspond to the level in the spinal cord where damage occurred.
People with spinal cord injuries can lead productive lives.
Lower back pain occurs due to several causes such as muscle strain, incorrect posture, over-use and spinal injuries, etc.

Exercises for Strong Bones

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According to the Medical Researchers people with low bone density are at the higher risk of developing Osteoporosis. National Institutes of Health National Resource Center states that bone mass peaks during the third decade of life and after that we begin to lose bone. But this bone loss can be prevented with regular exercise. If you continue to exercise into middle age and beyond; risk of developing osteoporosis decreases undoubtedly. You can start a bone-healthy exercise program even if you are diagnosed with osteoporosis.

National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) suggests that as the people age, they should take the charge of their bone health. Along with diet and regular check-ups, a healthy and regular exercise regimen can help to slow down the aging effects while allowing you to maintain quality of life through activity and independence. A customized and regular exercise program may help to prevent falls and fall related fractures which quite so often result into disability and pre-mature death.

Which exercises can benefit bone health?

Exercises which can be beneficial for bone health and as well strengthen bones and muscles and improvise balance, co-ordination and flexibility can be categorized as follow :-

  • High-Impact Weight-bearing Exercises: Activities like dancing, hiking, jogging, stair climbing, tennis which make you move against gravity are grouped under this exercise regime.
  • Low-Impact Weight-bearing Exercises: Such activities help you to make bones strong while being a safer alternative to high-impact exercises. These include activities like; using elliptical training machine, using stair-step machines or moving fast on a treadmill or outside.
  • Posture Exercises: Such exercises help to improve posture and reduce risk of developing ‘sloped’ shoulders and bone fracture as well.
  • Hip and Back Strengthening Exercises: These include activities which are helpful in strengthening the muscles in the back and hips.
  • Balance Exercises: These exercises strengthen your legs and as well evaluate or test your balance while reducing the risk of falling.
  • Functional Exercises: These include activities for elder adults and specifically for those with limited movements. Such exercises improve how will you move and reduce the chances of falling and breaking a bone.

But it is to be kept in mind that before beginning any exercise regime, you should undergo a through medical examination in order to determine a safer exercise regime. Based on medical evaluation of the following factors a customized exercise regime is set up:

  • Fracture Risk
  • Balanced and Gait
  • Muscle Strength
  • Range of Motion
  • Physical Activity Level
  • Fitness

Your physical therapist would also consider your chronic medical conditions like; obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. And thereafter, a customized program is designed based on the movement, limitation, personalized goal and health consideration of the clients.

Contact Active Physical Therapy for the state-of-art treatment of any of your musculoskeletal disease. Our treatment modules are planned and coordinated according to the needs, requirements and urgencies of our patients. The treatment modules co-ordinated by us will not only cure your current ailment but also pose a check on the further ones.