What is it?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to damage to the nerves that run from your brain to your body through your spine – your spinal cord. This can occur due to a number of reasons, including a car accident, sports injury, tumour, fractures of the spine and more.

How can it affect me?

SCIs can cause motor (movement) and/or sensory damage to the areas below the level of injury in the spinal cord. There are complete (totally severed nerves) and incomplete (partially severed or damaged nerves) types of SCIs. You may hear the terms quadriplegia (all 4 limbs affected) or paraplegia (both legs affected), these refer to types of SCIs as well.

The severity and impact of an SCI can vary significantly depending on the level of the injury and whether it is complete or incomplete, but some of the things that may be affected include:

  • Walking
  • Use of arms or legs
  • Balance
  • Bowel and bladder function
  • Breathing
  • Ability to move in bed
  • General independence
  • Assistance with hygiene tasks
  • and more

How Neuphysio can help!

SCIs are complex and unique to every individual, but at Neuphysio, our knowledgeable and experienced therapists are able to assess your abilities and optimize a plan to maximize your recovery. Since every injury is different, it is important that treatment is individualized to the injury and with your goals in mind.

Complete SCIs require learning to use the parts of your body that are unaffected in ways that promote independence and maximize function, but also learn strategies to compensate for the loss of function from the injury. Incomplete SCIs require treatment to promote neuroplasticity – creating new pathways between the brain and the body through repetitive and varied tasks, so that you can learn to move again.

Treatment may include:

  • Hands-on techniques
  • Exercises
  • Stretches
  • Education
  • Various modalities or technology that your therapist can discuss with you based on your needs and your goals

Our staff at Neuphysio is also familiar with other services and providers in the community that may be beneficial for you to maximize your care and recovery. SCI rehabilitation is complex, but at Neuphysio we understand the complexity and are here to help you on your journey!