Spinal Cord Injuries And Their Rehabilitation

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What is meant by spinal cord injury? 

A person can undergo several kinds of SCIs or spinal cord injuries. The level of severity and wide types of injuries has to be considered before starting the treatment. Spinal cord injury is caused when the person experiences spinal cord damage, failing broadcasts of information between the various parts of the body and the brain.

There are two main types of spinal cord injuries- complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries. An accident affecting the spinal cord has chances to result in various kinds of conditions that differ in severity. A complete injury is said to be more dangerous than the incomplete CSI. If you are thinking to learn about spinal cord rehabilitation, you need to know the types of injuries and their causes in brief.

What is incomplete and complete spinal cord injury? 

Incomplete spinal cord injury

Incomplete spinal cord injury partially affects the spinal cord. It is caused due to bruising or spinal cord contusion, having something unrelenting beside the spinal cord, stretching, partial division of the spinal cord, or foreign bodies embedded or having bone fragments or anything that affects it. Due to such incomplete spinal cord injury types, the individual can experience lessened motor functions or sensory functions underneath the injury location.But individuals with these kinds of injuries have chances to recover certain functions after some time according to their medical and health history.

Quadriplegia or tetraplegia is damage that distresses all four limbs along with the torso. It mostly happens due to high-level damage and it damages the cervical spinal cord. Paraplegia is also referred to as partial paralysis. It commonly affects the lower extremities' functions.

Complete spinal cord injury

It permanently damages the affected part of the spinal cord. In most cases, complete spinal cord injury types are specified by the complete lack of sensory and motor functions beneath the injury regions on the spinal cord.

Know about the Spinal cord rehabilitation program types 

There are different kinds of spinal cord damage treatment programs and they are as follows:

· Vocational rehabilitation programs
· Daily treatment programs
· Transitional living programs
· Long term rehabilitation programs
· Sub-acute rehabilitation programs
· Acute rehabilitation programs

The rehabilitation program for the patient with spinal cord injury starts at the time of the acute treatment stage. When the patient recovers, then an extensive rehabilitation program will be started. The rehabilitation program’s success depends on several variables and it includes the following:

· Family support
· Complete patient’s health
· Degree and type of resulting disabilities and impairments
· Severity and level of the spinal cord injury

It is necessary to concentrate on maximizing the capabilities of the patient in the community and at home. Positive reinforcement assists in recovery by promoting independence and improving self-esteem. The main aim of the rehabilitation program would be to assist the patient get back to the normal level of function and be independent as much as possible. Thus, it also enhances the total quality of life- socially, emotionally, and physically. 

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centers Advise Yoga Poses After TBI

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Yoga Benefits for Brain Injury Patients 

Brain injury rehabilitation centers often recommend simple yoga for people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. The benefits of yoga after TBI are plenty because it is therapeutic for the body and the mind.

• The breathing technique in yoga relieves stress.

• The focus is on the movement, which gets rid of anxiety.

• Together they help heal the brain.

• A Purdue University study proved that TBI patients who practice adaptive yoga:

• Show 36% increased balance.

• 100% increase in lower-extremity strength.

With that in mind, we give you 3 simple yoga poses as advised by rehab centers. These poses have been adapted for TBI patients using wheelchairs

Eagle And Side Stretch Yoga Poses 

The first yoga pose for brain injury patients is the Eagle. It stretches the back and the shoulders. These are steps to do eagle pose after TBI:

• Take a deep breath and then raise your hands so that they line up with your eyes.

• Entwine your hands so that they are crossed at the elbows. As you do so, let your breath out slowly.

• Now lift your entwined hands above your head. Hold them there for 20 to 30 seconds and focus on your breathing.

• The second yoga pose for TBI patients is the side stretch, which strengthens your obliques. These are steps to do it:

• As you take in a breath, lift your right arm up and then bend it over your head.

• Let your breath out slowly and tilt your torso towards your left side. Bend as much as you can. Make sure that the right arm is still stretched over your head.

• Stay in this position for 3 to 5 breaths.

• As you take another breath in, bring your body back to the center.
  Repeat all the steps with the other arm. 

The Leg Stretch Pose For Brain Injury Patients 

The third yoga pose brain injury rehab centers recommend is the leg stretch. It stretches the hamstring. Follow these steps to practice it:

• Breath in slowly as you sit straight up. Lengthen your spine as much as possible.

• Let out the breath and reach with your hands towards the back of your knee.

• Use your hands to lift the knee up. Go as high as possible. Stop when you feel pain. 

• Hold the position for 3 to 5 breaths and then release the knee.
  Do the same with the other knee.

• Although there is no doubt that yoga is an excellent therapy for TBI patients, it is best done with the help of a certified instructor. Also, do the poses regularly. Only then will you see results. When you start, the poses may be challenging, but with time, you and your brain will learn to adjust. So, don’t give up!

A Rehabilitation Centre Talks About Common Surgeries 

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When people are recommended surgery, they are understandably scared. The uncertainty of it and the risks involved can be terrifying. Over our years of experience as a rehabilitation centre in Chennai, we’ve realised that knowledge can make the situation less scary. People are relieved to know that the surgery they will undergo is performed commonly and is relatively safe. With that in mind, we talk about the three most common orthopaedic surgeries.

Surgery For ACL Reconstruction
One of the major ligaments in our knees is the ACL. Called the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, it is responsible for keeping the leg stable when we rotate it. It is present diagonally in front of our knees. It is often torn in athletes or accidents. The ACL reconstruction helps repair the tear using a tendon from another part of the patient’s body. It is then grafted on to the torn ACL.

It is the most common of all orthopaedic surgeries. So much so, that most patients return home the same day. However, rehabilitation of the knee is recommended using the RICE method - Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It should be noted that going back to usual activities like sports or exercise can take as much as a year after the surgery.

Surgery For Knee Replacement
When the cartilage in the knee joint is damaged, it restricts the movement of a person. It is often very painful. The damage can happen due to:

Trauma

Obesity

Repetitive movements causing bursitis

If the injury is very severe, it may require a complete or partial knee replacement surgery. It is the second most common orthopaedic surgery. In case the replacement is partial, all the damaged portions of the knee are removed, and metal components are added in place.

In a total knee replacement, the whole joint is replaced by metal. Again, some rehabilitation is needed after the surgery.

Surgery For Shoulder Replacement
The shoulder is made of a socket in which the end of the humerus bone sits. The two are connected through the rotator cuff, i.e., ligaments and tendons. In a shoulder replacement surgery, the top part of the upper arm bone (humerus) is removed and a metal ball is added in its place. Next, any injured part of the socket is removed and replaced with a plastic prosthesis.

In some cases, even the rotator cuff is damaged, which requires a reverse shoulder replacement. In this surgery, the plastic prosthesis is connected to the top part of the upper arm bone. And the metal ball is installed in the socket. The two are connected using metal screws and plates.

While every surgery comes with risks, these three are the most common in orthopaedics and have a reasonable success rate. We hope the knowledge shared will make your situation a little more bearable.