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Article discusses the etiology, prevention, and clinical management of heterotopic ossification (HO) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Although the cause of HO after SCI remains unknown, trauma and overexpression of bone morphogenic proteins in traumatized soft tissue appear to play important roles. Preventive use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ...

Literature review examines the prevalence of abnormalities of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Compared to the able-bodied population, people with SCI are more likely to have oral carbohydrate intolerance, insulin resistance, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which are risk ...

National survey examined the patterns and predictors of access to a variety of specific health care services among adults with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or arthritis. Participants in managed care and traditional fee-for-service health plans answered questions concerning their need for and access to services from ...

Article analyzing trends in the medical care of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), based on records of the federally-designated Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems. The article first discusses the history of data collection by the Model SCI Systems, then discusses trends related to acute SCI management, clinical outcomes, ...

Article discusses the societal aspects of disability in older adults. It focuses ethics related to competency, elder abuse, sexuality, community integration, work, leisure skills, and the issue of driving a motor vehicle. This article is part of the study guide on geriatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education program ...

Book chapter on the role of alcohol in rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), including pre- and post-injury alcohol problems and intoxication. The prevalence of alcohol abuse and the effects of alcohol-related factors on rehabilitation outcomes are discussed, and methods for screening, ...

Presents psychometric data on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a measure used to identify major depressive disorder (MDD) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Data collected from 849 participants 1 year after SCI were used to compute descriptive statistics on rates of depressive symptoms and probable MDD, evaluate ...

Article reporting on a survey intended to determine the level of alcohol use and motivation to change drinking habits among persons with recent spinal cord injury (SCI). Data are from a survey of 68 persons with recent SCI during inpatient rehabilitation. It was found that soon after SCI, most ...

Study investigated whether a history of alcohol-related problems is associated with progress during inpatient rehabilitation among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Analysis revealed that problem drinkers had significantly lower Functional Independence Measure admission, discharge, and efficiency scores and a longer rehabilitation length of stay than those without a ...

Chapter examines issues regarding the diagnosis, etiology, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal pain and overuse injuries in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The relationship between pain and injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, back and neck are discussed in detail. Options for treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries ...

Questionnaires and physical exams were used to evaluate neck pain in a group of wheelchair users. Main outcome measures included reported neck pain, visual analog scale of neck complaints, the Neck Disability Index, and physical exam findings of trigger points. Of the 68 participants, 66.2 percent reported experiencing neck ...

Study examined the relationship between wheelchair pushrim biomechanics and progressive shoulder injury in manual wheelchair users. Biomechanical data were obtained on 14 subjects with spinal cord injury who used manual wheelchairs. Magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of both shoulders were completed for each subject on 2 occasions, approximately 2 years ...

Part of the Hot Topics Series: TBI and Depression

Study analyzed median and ulnar nerve function and their relationship with the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist during wheelchair propulsion. The kinematic data of 35 manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury were analyzed. Subjects also underwent bilateral nerve conduction studies to determine if nerve function was ...

Article presents practical recommendations related to wheelchair setup and propulsion based on work completed at the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration for the Collaboration on Upper Limb Pain in SCI (CULP-SCI) study. Authors recommend that wheelchair users take long, smooth propulsive strokes that use as much ...

Study examined the preventive health behaviors of women with spinal cord injury (SCI) by comparing the frequency of mammograms or Pap smears between women with SCI and women in the general population, and among women with SCI as a function of racial/ethnic status and socioeconomic status (income and education ...

Continuous sitting and standing tolerance was measured by: (1) covert observation of 154 patients with chronic back pain and (2) blinded expert physician prediction based on complete history and physical examination. One hundred twenty-four of the 154 patients (80.5 percent) were able to sit continuously for 60 minutes or ...

Article briefly discusses research on environmental factors that act as barriers in the daily lives of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). In a survey of more than 2,700 people with SCI, about 20 percent said none of the 12 environmental factors they were asked about were barriers to ...

Article discusses the value of service dogs as assistants to people with mobility limitations. Author offers advice on determining the need for, selecting, and caring for a service animal.

Article discusses the healing benefits of gardening. The horticultural program for people with spinal cord injury program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, California is described. A list of resources for additional information and adapted tools and equipment is included.