Spinal Cord Injury: What Should You Know?

There are two types of range of motion exercises active and passive. Active exercises are the ones that can be performed by the patient. Stretching is one such example. The patient uses the stronger arm as a support to the weaker arm to perform such exercises. Passive exercises require the involvement of a physiotherapist. They are performed within a range of motion to avoid fatigue, pain, and swelling.

Empowering exercises help the patients with spinal cord injury to restore the strength of the upper extremities and shoulder rotation. These exercises include active and resistance exercises.

Weight and resistance exercises help in improving the muscle strength in paraplegics and tetraplegics. Dumbbells are used to perform these exercises. The weight of dumbbells is dependent on the patient s muscle strength. Breathing exercises must also be performed by paraplegic and tetraplegic patients in order to increase or maintain the lung capacity and strengthen the upper extremities.

Gait training is provided to the patients with spinal cord injury to inspire them to walk and stand wherever possible. It comprises of two phases stance and swing, in the ratio of 3:2. In case of stance phase, both feet should be on the ground for a period of time. In swing phase, one foot is on the ground while other remains in the air. The foot in the air is said to be in the swing phase of a gait cycle.