The Central Nervous System For Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be extremely debilitating with significant impairment in autonomic, sensory, and motor function (Coll-Miro et al., 2016). The prevalence in Canada is on the rise with approximately 86,000 individuals suffering from such injuries as of 2010 (Noonan et al., 2012). Spinal cord injuries are generally classified as either traumatic or non-traumatic, depending on etiology (Sabapathy et al., 2015). In addition, they are subdivided into either complete or incomplete, depending on whether the spinal cord section is fully or partially damaged (Wilberger and Dupre, 2015). The latter classification has better clinical outcomes as some neurologic function is reserved (Wilberger and Dupre, 2015). Other subtypes include paraplegia and quadriplegia denoting paralysis of the lower body or all limbs, respectively (Wilberger and Dupre, 2015; Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). The pathogenesis of spinal cord injuries is characterized by primary tissue damage due to the force of impact, followed by secondary tissue damage as a result of the inflammatory response (Sabapathy et al., 2015; Coll-Miro et al., 2015). The symptoms and severity may vary depending on the location and pathology of the contusion (Sabapathy et al., 2015). Presenting symptoms include but are not limited to numbness or pain in the extremities, loss of sensation, impaired movement or gait, abnormal reflexes, disrupted bladder or bowel function, and sexual dysfunction (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Several

A paralysis research guide and updated clinical trials are available. The website offers scholarly articles which contain information on observations and experimentations related to spinal cord injuries. One article that showed how research can benefit patients is Four Paraplegic Men Voluntarily Move Their Legs by Claudia Angeli, Ph.D., senior researcher at Human Locomotor Research Center at Frazier Rehab Institute. The article discussed how four individuals with spinal cord injuries, were implanted with epidural stimulators. The participants were monitored over a three year period. Results were achieved through continual direct epidural electrical stimulation of the participants' lower spinal cord, mimicking signals the brain normally transmits to initiate movement (Angeli, 2014, para. 5). All the participants were able to stand independently, had an increase in muscle mass and regulation of blood pressure at the end of the research period. Empirical evidence was used by observation and inference. The data was recorded and analyzed, leading to a significant breakthrough in the treatment of paralysis and spinal cord injuries. The second article that showed empirical evidence was The Real Brain Drain: Unmet Neuro Therapies by Martin Schwab, Ph. D. The article discussed drug companies and their reluctance to pursue drugs for neurological disorders. Drug companies have

The first article is called Training Mobility Tasks after Stroke with Combined Mental and Physical Practice: A Feasibility Study. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the prospect of using mental practice in combination with physical practice to improve the motor strategy of persons with impaired loading of the affected leg while standing up from a chair and sitting down. Twelve subjects with hemiparesis between the ages of 30 to 75 years old participated in this study. The participants were trained with mental practice to increase the loading of the affected limb while standing up from a chair and sitting down. Subjects were seated on a chair with a seat height standardized to 100% of lower leg length. Vertical forces were recorded using force plates under each foot and the chair. Using auditory cues, the subjects were required to stand and sit without using their hands. They were instructed to hold their paretic hand with their non-affected hand and to keep their elbows flexed in front of them. The loading of the affected leg during standing up and sitting down was assessed at three time points: before training (baseline), after one training session (post-training), and one day later

The scale is broken up into classifications A, B, C, D, and E. Classification “A” represents the most severe impairment indicating a complete lesion with no signs of sensory or motor function in the sacral segments. Classification “B” represents an incomplete lesion. Some sensory function is present but motor function is lost below the neurological level. Classification “C” represents an incomplete lesion. Motor function is present in this classification and more than half of the muscles below the point of injury have a muscle grade less than 3. Classification “D” represents an incomplete lesion, motor function is present, and at least half the muscles below the point of injury have a muscle grade of 3 or greater. Classification “E” represents the best outcome and indicates that all sensory and motor functions are intact (p.

Spinal cord injuries are characterized by two distinct injury phases. The primary injury phase is represented by all the tissue directly damaged at the time of injury. The damage seen in this phase is primarily shearing of cells, destruction of local vasculature, and severe disruption of spinal cord function. The secondary injury phase is characterized by inflammation of the injury site, immune-mediated tissue destruction, and edema formation at the lesion site. The nature of spinal cord injuries makes the damage done by the primary injury irreversible. The majority of therapeutic research is done with the intention of lessening the damage done during the secondary injury phase. One major complication faced by researchers trying to control the secondary injury phase is the localized destruction of vasculature. Without a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, many of the cells in the spinal cord will begin to die rapidly, oftentimes releasing biological signals that encourage other cells to die as well. The uncontrolled movement of fluid into the lesion site causes the tissue to swell, further complicating the processes of rebuilding vasculature. The movement of immune

Stroke can be defined as an unexpected and evolving start of neurological symptoms due to a quick and steady blocking of blood stream to the brain. A stroke is a common brain injury that ranks amongst the leading causes of death around the world (Murray and Lopez et al 1997). The symptoms and the harshness of the injury is determined by the area, and the degree of damage it causes to the brain. A common result of a stroke is Hemiparesis, which effects only half of the body. This condition then adversely effects the different systems of the body causing weakness of the muscles and loss of agility. Following a stroke, many patients begin to experience a continuous sensorimotor shortage. This shortage in sensorimotor not only hinders their capacity

Injuries can happen to anyone, anywhere. Injuries affect people’s lives as they limit their choices, temporarily or permanently. Most injuries are not preventable, because most happen unexpectedly. For example, spinal cord injuries can occur if a person falls abruptly on his/her back and shatters their spinal cord. Although injuries cannot be prevented, they can be healed. New technologies are under development to solve major injuries, which do not yet have a cure. One of these major injuries is a spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord trauma affects a multitude of individuals globally. Many common spinal cord injuries occur frequently from motor vehicle accidents, athletics, falls, and disease and are not curable (Center NSCISC 2013). Depending on the area that is damaged, there are numerous consequences of spinal cord injuries that affect the body in different ways. As individuals age, their susceptibility to such injuries significantly increases and is frequently caused by falling. However, anyone is susceptible to spinal cord trauma. In the United States, 906 individuals per one million have some sort of spinal cord injury. The peak age of those affected is younger than thirty and the elderly. The most prevalent reason comes from automobile accidents and

A spinal cord injury is defined as any damage done to the spinal cord that causes changes in function. Until recently, there was little knowledge known about the aftermath effects of a post spinal cord injury. Two different research teams decided to test the aftereffects that spinal cord injuries have on the well-being of a person. Both research teams tested the well-being of patients based on a multitude of different factors; such as, religion, gender, income, age and many other factors.

Brain and spinal injuries are very serious conditions due to the ability to change or stop certain body functions permanently. One can be born with brain damage in which case the brain cells have been killed off. Spinal damage on the other hand can occur at any point in a lifetime. There are many different consequences to getting these injuries such as muscle failure.

Stretch-related injuries, compression, and lacerations are among the three most common peripheral nerve injuries (Burnett). The severity and the amount of disruption to the internal structures of the nerve

My research addresses rehabilitation post-stroke, primarily improving lower extremity function. I study factors contributing to compensation, which involves greater than normal use of the non-impaired limb compared to the impaired limb. Compensation can be detrimental to rehabilitation as the impaired limb is underutilized and function cannot be restored. This may lead to weakness and impaired mobility/gait.

[1] Lerner Z.F., Damiano D.L., Park H.S., Gravunder A.J., Bulea T.C. (2017). A Robotic Exoskeleton for Treatment of Crouch Gait in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Design and Initial Application. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng, 25(6), 650-659. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2595501. Epub 2016 Jul 27. PubMed PMID: 27479974.

People often relate the loss of arm mobility to stroke patients because it is so noticeable when a person cannot use one of their arms properly. Statistics show, “motor deficits are common following stroke. Approximately 43% to 69% of people suffering from a stroke have upper-extremity impairment, 1, 2 and 4 years after a stroke, 67% still experience non-use of the affected arm as a major problem” (Siebers et al., 389). In these cases, CIMT can be more beneficial than less invasive therapies. CIMT looks to force movement and use of the affected side of the body after a stroke in order to promote rehabilitation while limiting the unaffected limb. However, this type of therapy does not come easily as CIMT is a very rigorous therapy. In the article, Stroke patients ' and therapists ' opinions of constraint-induced movement therapy, it was stated this therapy is intense because the unaffected arm is restrained while the patient participates in about 6 hours

A 22 year-old graphic designer name Alex A. got into a car accident that led to spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord controls body functions and feelings through ascending and descending impulses to the brain (Groves 1995). This accident prevented the patient’s spinal cord from delivering sensory or motor function below C2. A ventilator was needed for him to breath and he was fed intravenously. For this reason, a surgery was required to stabilize his condition. After five months of rehabilitation at spinal cord injury center, his motor and sensory function improved by being able to move his hands adequately. However, his lower extremities are concerned since he still had problems with mobility and defecation.