Innovative Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab

As we have discussed in a prior blog, the spine is of paramount importance to the physical independence of individuals.

When a catastrophic injury, trauma, or multiple traumas result in a spinal cord injury (SCI), all manner of disabilities can result. Expert acute care must immediately be rendered. Thereafter and once the individual has been medically stabilized, comes the need for an equally expert multidisciplinary team for the individual’s post-acute rehabilitation. This is required to maximize the individual’s ability to achieve independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit. That expertise in spinal cord injury rehabilitation is best found at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida.

Spinal cord injuries, by their nature, demand that difficult and challenging diagnoses are made. In part, that is due to the variety of causes of them. Some of the causes are disease-related and some result from trauma or catastrophic injury. Regardless of the cause, a spinal cord injury (SCI) has profound effects on independence and the ability of an individual to attend to his or her own activities of daily living (ADLs). Some of the most frequent causes of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) include:

• Tumors
• Infections like meningitis and polio
• Inflammatory diseases
• Autoimmune diseases
• Degenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Motor vehicle accidents (MVA)
• Traumatic injuries
• Work-related injuries

As we have discussed, here is an overview of the structure of the spinal cord:

Physically, the spinal cord is a bundle of soft nerves that lead from a part of the brain called the brainstem. The bundle of nerves is encased for protection in a bony structure called the spinal column. The spinal cord attached to the brain at the brainstem.  

The spinal column is comprised of stacked bones called vertebrae. Between the vertebrae are softer cartilage discs. In the spaces between the discs are small passages through which the nerves of the spinal cord can exit to other parts of the body (such as to an arm to allow its movement).

The vertebrae of the spinal column are named according to location along the length of the spinal cord from top to bottom:

• Cervical vertebrae (1-7) located in the neck;
• Thoracic vertebrae (1-12) located in the upper back;
• Lumbar vertebrae (1-5) located in the low back
• Sacral vertebrae (1-5) found in the hip area
• Coccygeal vertebrae (1-4). These are fused and constitute the “tail bone.” This segment of the spine has general control of the pelvic area.

The primary objective of post-acute rehabilitation of a spinal cord injury (SCI) is maximizing the individual’s medical, functional and psychological improvement. The ultimate goal is to achieve independence to the greatest degree possible consistent with his or her physical and mental abilities.

Results of post-acute rehabilitation are associated with the neurological level of the spinal cord injury (SCI). Only rarely does a spinal cord injury (SCI) implicate all parts of the spine. Therefore, NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation for an individual with a spinal cord injury (SCI) involves creating a Client Goal Plan geared to the affected part of the spine. However, broadly, spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation can include some of the following areas, and others:

• Spasticity management. This relates to a form of muscle over activity that occurs when communication between your brain and spinal cord is disrupted by a spinal cord injury (SCI) or other spinal cord condition.
• Upper extremity functional restoration. This involves the use of methods to restore movement needed in your daily life, including nerve re-education, muscle strengthening, and task training.
• Locomotor training. Locomotor training is intended to improve and recover walking movement by challenged practice and lower extremity weight bearing. 
• Assistive technology. If communication abilities have been affected by a spinal cord injury (SCI), the speech-language pathologists at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida will evaluate an individual for these technological options.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multidisciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Plan guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757