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The spinal cord is one of the most complex parts of the human body. When the cord is severed or injured, the body is thrown into a state of upheaval that requires long term recovery. A spinal cord injury can be caused by trauma or a disease to the vertebral column (spine) or to the spinal cord itself. Your level of injury is classified by which vertebra is damaged.

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There are numerous explanations about spinal cord injuries published on the internet or in books, so we are not going to go into detail explaining how the spinal cord works. The important thing to know is how to deal with all the crazy things your body can and cannot do at this point in your recovery. Remember, the part of your body above your injury and the part below your injury is perfectly fine. The problem is that the two cannot communicate (send nerve signals) through the scarring around your injury or through your injury itself. Therefore, until your body is able to send those signals again, you need to take meticulous care of yourself.

Information in this section explains how to take care of your body and its unique health issues, how to develop an effective rehabilitation program, what equipment I find most useful, and some stories about other inspiring people to keep you motivated.

The most important thing for you to remember is that there is always hope. Every injury is different, and therefore no doctor can tell you definitively what you will and will not be able to do. Hope is the drug that will keep you on the path to recovery.

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We need to keep our bodies in the best possible shape. The lack of movement below one’s level of injury causes the body’s muscles and nerves to atrophy. I had an MRI done about a year and a half after my spinal cord injury.

The doctor looked at it and responded “I see the spinal cord injury, that makes sense, I see above his injury level and that looks healthy which makes sense, but what does not make sense is that the spinal cord below his level of injury is the exact same width and healthiness as above his injury level.”

He told my dad that he never seen that before. He said when someone has a spinal cord injury, the spinal cord typically shrinks below their level of injury because the lack of neurological activity. My dad went on to explain how much exercise I do below my level of injury.

Both with the standing frame and the FES bike, I’ve been able to keep my spinal cord healthy so that when the cure does come I don’t have to play catch-up; all I have to do is connect the two sides with the right combination therapy.

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New technological advances in equipment have truly revolutionized physical therapy as we know it. Specific pieces of equipment are necessary to provide a healthy mind and body.

In order to use any of these pieces of equipment one truly needs to be trained by a licensed physical or occupational therapist that will help to develop a specific program based upon an individual’s goals and the doctors and physical therapists goals.

Strengthening Program

All-pro adjustable ankle and wrist weights attach with Velcro. I recommend these for people who can not yet grasp with their hands.

A hand exercise web can be used to strengthen your finger and hand muscles. I don’t have voluntary hand movement, but with electrical stimulation to my forearm and hand I can use the web to exercise the muscles with resistance.

Mat Program

I recommend using a manual crank mat, the PerformaTM Adjustable Mat Platform. It will save you about two to three thousand dollars and it’s just as easy to use. If you are set on a power mat, I recommend the PerformaTM Power Mat Platforms.

Rolls and wedges are essential for mat work. They can be used to position you for optimal exercise.

I use an arm and leg combo skateboard when on the mat. I use it with a powder board and it allows me to slide my arm easily. The skateboard is perfect when trying to strengthen weakened muscles. Add additional waits on top of your arm and wrist to provide resistance. Another way to provide resistance is to position yourself next to a surface that is on an incline so you can work against gravity on wheels.

Powder Board While doing my rehab at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, I came across this product. This powder board has many uses when it comes to spinal cord rehabilitation. Because of the the powder boards smooth surface and four folding legs this product becomes very useful when strengthening weakened muscles throughout the body.

“2½’ x 3½’ (76 x 106 cm) plywood, with Masonite® top and four folding legs. 7″ high (18cm). Latex free.”

Upper Body Exercises

VitaGlide Wheelchair Fitness Machine I’d tried this product at Kennedy Krieger when they were demoing it. At the time, I had very little movement in my left arm and was not able to fully experience the machine. But from watching others use the device it looks like a pretty effective upper body exercise device.

Gym Accessories

Exercise and Work TablesThere are specific tables that can be used for every day needs and exercise. These tables and exercise tables are height adjustable and have a specific cutout so you can wheel your wheelchair up to them. They can also be angled for ease of reading.As an athlete, I understand how important it is to watch yourself work out in a mirror to make sure that your form is good and that you are performing the exercise properly. Biofeedback is also essential to retraining the spinal cord. This mirror is on wheels and has a pegboard on the back to hold weights or other exercise supplies. It’s a space saver.

Other Programs to Consider