Max
02-24-2003, 04:17 PM
HealthBeat: New Spinal Injury Therapy
Rebecca Somach
Spinal Injuries
The spinal cord is the main network of nerves that transmits signals between
the brain and other parts of the body. It's encased and protected by the
spinal column. Smaller nerve fibers branch out from the spinal cord to the
body.
When the back is injured, the damaged vertebrae can pinch the spinal cord,
causing bruising or swelling of the delicate spinal nerves. In some cases,
the spinal cord or nerves are torn. The injury disrupts the transmission of
signals between the brain and the area of the spinal cord at and below the
point of injury. Message transmission above the level of injury remains
intact.
Generally, the higher up in the spinal cord the level of injury, the greater
the effect on the body's ability to move and feel. Injury in the area of the
lower back can lead to paraplegia, a loss of feeling and/or control over the
lower parts of the body, such as feet, legs, stomach, and chest. Injury
between the top of the spinal cord and shoulder can result in tetraplegia
(previously called quadriplegia). This type of injury can cause a loss of
feeling/movement in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and upper chest.
According to the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, up to 230,000
Americans are living with a spinal cord injury. About 11,000 new cases occur
every year. Roughly 56 percent of patients are between 16 and 30, with an
average age of 32 at the time of the incident. More than 80 percent of those
with spinal cord injuries are males. Automobile accidents are the most
common cause of injury - accounting for roughly 38 percent of cases. Other
common causes include acts of violence, falls, and sports/recreational
activities.
Training to Walk
Some patients with spinal cord injury have an incomplete injury. These
patients still retain some ability to walk, but don't have muscle strength
to hold up the body. With the use of a walker, brace, or other type of
supportive device, patients can relearn how to walk to some degree. However,
the walking stance is very unnatural - being slow, awkward and tiring.
Researchers have learned that sometimes, even after a spinal injury, the
nerve pathway below the point of injury to the lower body remains intact.
Thus, signals can still be transmitted within that small section of the
spinal cord. Investigators theorize patients may be able to use this section
of spinal nerves to relearn how to walk more naturally.
In locomotor therapy, the patient's legs and hips are positioned into
natural walking movements while he/she is on a treadmill. Hopefully, the
area of the spinal cord below the injury detects the sensory information and
eventually learns to generate the pattern of signals that enable walking.
The treadmill allows researchers to control the pace of walking, which can
be increased as the patient progresses.
Currently, investigators are looking into locomotor therapy for patients
with incomplete spinal cord injury who maintain some ability to walk. Not
everyone responds to the therapy, so doctors are trying to understand who
may benefit the most or how the process can be adapted to help more
patients. Researchers are also comparing the effectiveness of treadmill
training against similar therapy using a bicycle. Eventually, the studies
may lead to the development of new methods of rehabilitation for more
patients with spinal cord injuries. The current studies are funded in part
by the Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation.
Audience Inquiry
For general information about spinal cord injury:
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield, NJ
07081, http://www.christopherreeve.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 300-9,
Bethesda, MD 20817, http://www.spinalcord.org
Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20006,
http://www.pva.org
Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu
Find this article at:
http://www.hoinews.com/news/features/4/223631.html
Rebecca Somach
Spinal Injuries
The spinal cord is the main network of nerves that transmits signals between
the brain and other parts of the body. It's encased and protected by the
spinal column. Smaller nerve fibers branch out from the spinal cord to the
body.
When the back is injured, the damaged vertebrae can pinch the spinal cord,
causing bruising or swelling of the delicate spinal nerves. In some cases,
the spinal cord or nerves are torn. The injury disrupts the transmission of
signals between the brain and the area of the spinal cord at and below the
point of injury. Message transmission above the level of injury remains
intact.
Generally, the higher up in the spinal cord the level of injury, the greater
the effect on the body's ability to move and feel. Injury in the area of the
lower back can lead to paraplegia, a loss of feeling and/or control over the
lower parts of the body, such as feet, legs, stomach, and chest. Injury
between the top of the spinal cord and shoulder can result in tetraplegia
(previously called quadriplegia). This type of injury can cause a loss of
feeling/movement in the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and upper chest.
According to the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, up to 230,000
Americans are living with a spinal cord injury. About 11,000 new cases occur
every year. Roughly 56 percent of patients are between 16 and 30, with an
average age of 32 at the time of the incident. More than 80 percent of those
with spinal cord injuries are males. Automobile accidents are the most
common cause of injury - accounting for roughly 38 percent of cases. Other
common causes include acts of violence, falls, and sports/recreational
activities.
Training to Walk
Some patients with spinal cord injury have an incomplete injury. These
patients still retain some ability to walk, but don't have muscle strength
to hold up the body. With the use of a walker, brace, or other type of
supportive device, patients can relearn how to walk to some degree. However,
the walking stance is very unnatural - being slow, awkward and tiring.
Researchers have learned that sometimes, even after a spinal injury, the
nerve pathway below the point of injury to the lower body remains intact.
Thus, signals can still be transmitted within that small section of the
spinal cord. Investigators theorize patients may be able to use this section
of spinal nerves to relearn how to walk more naturally.
In locomotor therapy, the patient's legs and hips are positioned into
natural walking movements while he/she is on a treadmill. Hopefully, the
area of the spinal cord below the injury detects the sensory information and
eventually learns to generate the pattern of signals that enable walking.
The treadmill allows researchers to control the pace of walking, which can
be increased as the patient progresses.
Currently, investigators are looking into locomotor therapy for patients
with incomplete spinal cord injury who maintain some ability to walk. Not
everyone responds to the therapy, so doctors are trying to understand who
may benefit the most or how the process can be adapted to help more
patients. Researchers are also comparing the effectiveness of treadmill
training against similar therapy using a bicycle. Eventually, the studies
may lead to the development of new methods of rehabilitation for more
patients with spinal cord injuries. The current studies are funded in part
by the Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation.
Audience Inquiry
For general information about spinal cord injury:
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield, NJ
07081, http://www.christopherreeve.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 300-9,
Bethesda, MD 20817, http://www.spinalcord.org
Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20006,
http://www.pva.org
Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu
Find this article at:
http://www.hoinews.com/news/features/4/223631.html