KNOWLEDGE BASE
PARAPLEGIA
The term 'Paraplegia' refers to weakness and/or loss of sensation in both lower limbs (legs and feet). This results due to an injury to the spinal cord; which may occur due to direct blow to the spine/back bone (like in road accidents) or some infection/ tumour within the spinal cord. An injury to the spinal cord at the neck level may result in weakness from the neck down, in this case called tetraplegia.
The spinal cord lies within the backbone, runs from the neck to just above the low back area, and it carries all the nerves supplying the whole body. Nerves are responsible for carrying to and fro information from the brain to the rest of the body. For example, if we have to lift our hand, our brain sends out a command, which is transmitted by the respective nerve (through the spinal cord) to the hand. So if there is an injury to the spinal cord due to above mentioned reasons, the connection between the brain and the affected body part is either disrupted or completely broken. This causes weakness or sensation loss or both.
Treatment :
As physiotherapists, we are involved in the rehabilitation of such patients suffering from paraplegia or tetraplegia. A physiotherapist uses different treatment techniques & various intensive exercises in the rehabilitation program.
This includes training even the most basic of needs like turn in bed, maintain self-hygiene, sit up, transfer to a wheelchair, etc. Depending upon the recovery, paraplegic patients may also be taught to walk using certain devices. A physiotherapist plays an important role in making the patient maximally independent in his/her day-to-day activities.
What do we do at TEAM :
We at TEAM keep ourselves updated to the latest knowledge and research in the field of Spinal Cord Rehabilitation.
We have been able to successfully treat our patients with spinal cord injuries and diseases to achieve near normal level of function.
We focus on strengthening of the muscles which are functioning that is above the level of injury. The basis of Spinal cord Rehabilitation again lies in NEUROPLASTICITY as does the brain recovery. Thus trying to achieve recruitment of the paralysed muscles is the main goal of therapy.
The recovery depends on the level and severity of injury. Incomplete cord injuries usually respond to aggressive and specific therapy. We have detailed evaluations of the patient at the beginning and at regular intervals of the therapy sessions to gauge the recovery process in the patient.
OUR main AIM AT TEAM is overall rehabilitation of the patient.Thus knowing the background of each patient, we help to rehabilitate our patients to the fullest functional level so that patient goes back to the society.