This article was published on: 10/16/24 9:03 AM
Last updated on October 22nd, 2024 at 07:13 am
Spinal cord injuries are among the most severe physical traumas a person can sustain in their lifetime. The spinal cord is more or less a network through which important messages are communicated from the brain to the rest of the body parts. When such a vital channel is affected, it leads to severe complications which might include paralysis, limited movement of the joints, and impaired other important functions. However, there are new developments in physiotherapy rehabilitation, in spine surgery, and in novel treatments like functional electrical stimulation and stem cell therapy in spinal injury that hold new hope for recovery and an active quality of life.
Axis Hospital is renowned to be the best physiotherapy hospital in Mumbai and one of the best orthopedic hospitals in Mumbai, providing the most excellent care for spinal cord injuries with personalized attention and state-of-the-art therapies. Understanding the common causes of spinal cord injury and how to prevent them can significantly minimize the incidence of such injuries. This blog tries to understand various causes of spinal cord injury prevention, treatment options available, and physiotherapy care for spinal cord injuries.
The best cure is always prevention, especially for spinal cord injuries, as their effects can last a lifetime. There are some proactive steps that individuals can take regarding these injuries:
Physical exercises that include building core strength, flexibility, and posture help individuals guard against spinal injuries. Exercises like Yoga and Pilates help make the muscles around the spine stronger.
If you are engaged in sports, especially contact sports, wearing the right protective gear can significantly reduce the risk of sports-related injuries and general physical trauma to the spinal cord.
For all those holding long desk hours, ensuring that your chair and workspace are ergonomically correct can prevent damage to the spine over time.
It prevents unnecessary pressure on the spine. As opposed to bending from the waist, bend from the knees. Keep the object you want to lift close to your body while lifting heavy objects.
Buckling of seatbelts can prevent the traumatic causes of spinal cord injury in case of an accident that may occur by following all other safety measures while in vehicles.
There are several reasons why the spinal cord may be injured, from traumatic causes to medical. Among the most typical reasons are:
It is the most common cause of spinal cord injury, and it is typically due to accidents, falls, or violent injuries, such as gunshot wounds. Spinal cord injuries like these often have to be treated immediately and sometimes with surgery.
High impact sports like football and rugby, as well as gymnastics, are certainly the most risky for the health of your spine. Even a mild symptom could lead to further complications in the long term.
Diseases such as arthritis or osteoporosis, which can gradually weaken the bones of the spine, makes them more susceptible to injury.
Some spinal cord injuries occur as complications of a surgical procedure or infection and thus can be treated therapeutically, including physiotherapy rehabilitation or surgery.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries focuses on function recovery, decreasing morbidity, and enhancing quality. The primary objectives of treatment include:
The main objective of the early hospital care through spine surgery is to stabilize the spinal cord in order not to worsen the injury caused.
Rehabilitation through physiotherapy enables patients to regain physical strength and mobility. Through functional electrical stimulation, movements are triggered in the paralyzed muscles.
Pain is a chronic condition after an injury to the spinal cord. This is controlled through physical therapies, drugs, and, in some cases, surgery.
A crucial aspect of recovery is enabling patients to live as independently as possible. This is done through physical exercises, rehabilitation and through assistive technologies.
Physiotherapy rehabilitation is a vital component of post-spinal cord injury treatment. Skilled physiotherapists at Axis Hospital create customized rehabilitation plans for patients. The main features of physiotherapy care include:
This is the method that applies the use of electrical currents for the stimulation of paralyzed muscles. FES improves mobility in joints and reduces atrophy in muscles, thus enhancing the ability of a patient to move about in daily living.
This ability of the brain to change and make novel neural pathways occurs in spinal cord injury after repetition of tasks and exercises, which leads to the reacquisition of some lost functions.
Since most rehabilitation activities concentrate on strength-building, movement, and flexibility enhancing techniques, the exercises for spinal cord injury are mainly aimed at strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, and enhancing coordination for patients.
Long-term rehabilitation of spinal cord injury, according to people, is a long procedure to regain the functions of both the body and mind. Thus, psychological treatments are also applied in physiotherapy treatments for helping people manage mental and emotional challenges when living with spinal cord injuries.
For a patient with a severe spinal cord injury, orthopedic care is strictly necessary for the patient. The panel on which Axis Hospital is built is multi-faceted orthopedic treatments that fall under two sub-categories: surgical and non-surgical treatment.
Severe spinal cord injuries might involve spine surgery to repair or stabilize the spine and prevent further damage, such that there will be better healing and recovery.
One promise of that is still in the early stages of treatment for spinal injury is Stem Cell Therapy. It aims to regenerate damaged cells within the spinal cord. This is still at an experimental stage, but it is a great promise for future care in spinal injuries.
Other therapeutic interventions include electrical stimulation and manual therapies that help attain function and mobility. These are quite fundamental in the rehabilitation of SCI patients so that they may regain their independence.
SCI care is mainly about managing complications related to spinal cord injury. These would include pressure sores, respiratory challenges, and bowel or bladder dysfunction.
A spinal cord injury is something that changes the life of a human being completely and needs holistic care. Axis Hospital provides some of the best treatments for spinal cord injuries by using innovative methods such as functional electrical stimulation, stem cell therapy, and expert spine surgery. With a combination of orthopedic treatments and physiotherapy rehabilitation, best results can be achieved in patients. Regardless of the cause—whether traumatic or sports-related—Axis Hospital provides comprehensive care for spinal cord injuries, Axis Hospital is a flagship spinal care center and will treat the spinal cord with a more holistic way of recovery to help patients regain control over their lives.
