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Mar 12
2018

Spinal Cord Injury & Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can offer hope and prevent further complications for those with spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injury (SCI) and rehabilitation are specialized areas. Often, a team of healthcare professionals is needed to help in rehabilitation. A physical therapist is an important member of that team.

Physical therapy can help with SCI and rehabilitation in several ways. The most severe spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, but there is a range of other conditions that you may also need to manage if you have or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury.

Here are three ways that physical therapy may be able to help after a spinal cord injury.

Increase function and optimize recovery

Working with a physical therapist after a spinal cord injury is crucial to increase function and optimize recovery as much as is physically possible. Physical therapists are experts when it comes to mobility and function.

A physical therapist will work with you to increase lower or upper extremity strength and function. He or she will also work with you to improve mobility as much as is possible, based on your own personal goals for rehabilitation.

[Related article: Physical Therapy Methods Explained]

Minimize further damage

After a spinal cord injury, nerve pathways can become damaged. The extent of the damage depends on the site of the injury. A physical therapist can work with you to help minimize damage after a spinal cord injury and retain as much mobility and function as is possible for the life you want to live.

Prevent complications

Secondary complications can occur throughout the body after a spinal cord injury. A physical therapist can work with you in your rehabilitation program to help prevent many of these complications.

Your physical therapist at Above & Beyond Physical Therapy in either Queen Creek or Phoenix will help you create a rehabilitation program after spinal cord injury that is based on your own personal goals for improving your quality of life.

Contact us for an evaluation today.