Spinal Cord Injury: Treatments and Rehabilitation (cont.)
How Does Rehabilitation Help People Recover From Spinal Cord Injuries?
No two people will experience the same emotions after surviving a spinal cord
injury, but almost everyone will feel frightened, anxious, or confused about
what has happened. It's common for people to have very mixed feelings: relief
that they are still alive, but disbelief at the nature of their disabilities.
Rehabilitation programs combine physical therapies with skill-building
activities and counseling to provide social and emotional support. The education
and active involvement of the newly injured person and his or her family and
friends is crucial.
A rehabilitation team is usually led by a doctor specializing in physical
medicine and rehabilitation (called a physiatrist), and often includes social
workers, physical and occupational therapists, recreational therapists,
rehabilitation nurses, rehabilitation psychologists, vocational counselors,
nutritionists, and other specialists. A case-worker or program manager
coordinates care.
In the initial phase of rehabilitation, therapists emphasize regaining leg
and arm strength since mobility and communication are the two most important
areas of function. For some, mobility will only be possible with the assistance
of devices such as a walker, leg braces, or a wheelchair. Communication skills,
such as writing, typing, and using the telephone, may also require adaptive
devices.
Physical therapy includes exercise programs geared toward muscle
strengthening. Occupational therapy helps redevelop fine motor skills. Bladder
and bowel management programs teach basic toileting routines, and patients also
learn techniques for self-grooming. People acquire coping strategies for
recurring episodes of spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, and neurogenic pain.
Vocational rehabilitation begins with an assessment of basic work skills,
current dexterity, and physical and cognitive capabilities to determine the
likelihood for employment. A vocational rehabilitation specialist then
identifies potential work places, determines the type of assistive equipment
that will be needed, and helps arrange for a user-friendly workplace. For those
whose disabilities prevent them from returning to the workplace, therapists
focus on encouraging productivity through participation in activities that
provide a sense of satisfaction and self-esteem. This could include educational
classes, hobbies, memberships in special interest groups, and participation in
family and community events.
Recreation therapy encourages patients to build on their abilities so that
they can participate in recreational or athletic activities at their level of
mobility. Engaging in recreational outlets and athletics helps those with spinal
cord injuries achieve a more balanced and normal lifestyle and also provides
opportunities for socialization and self-expression.
Next: How Is Research Helping Spinal Cord Injury Patients? »
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