Recovering Movement In Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

The University of California, Irvine, has just completed the very first study to show that human stem cells can bring back movement in spinal cord injury, advocating the possibility of treatment for a more vast populace of patients.

Past breakthroughs in stem cell studies concentrated on the vital or beginning stage of spinal cord injury, a time span of up to a couple of weeks after the onset of the trauma when medications can bring about some mobile recovery. Continue Reading »

Lifelong athlete shows determination in dealing with spinal injury

Who: Heidi Schindler, 27, Gervais; 5 feet 6 inches, 145 pounds.

Backstory: Schindler, a lifelong athlete, suffered a spinal cord injury in January while snowboarding. Her injury is at T9, which means she has full use of her upper body. She grew up playing team sports, swimming, running, a little of everything. “I’m very active,” she says, “so it’s not the lifestyle for me, to be stuck in a wheelchair. All I can do is try, and I’m always trying.” Continue Reading »

Spinal Cord Injury Aerobic Workout: Paraplegia

NCPAD presents “Exercise Program for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries: Paraplegia”. Continue Reading »

Discovery could help treat spinal injuries

U of A researchers uncover trigger that causes muscles to move without signal from brain

EDMONTON – Research led by a pair of University of Alberta scientists has uncovered a surprising phenomenon that offers hope of new treatments for people with spinal-cord injuries.

The team has pinpointed a unique ability of neurochemical receptors in the spinal cord as the reason why patients with partially and even fully severed cords often have some muscle activity. Continue Reading »

Answers to the 6 most frequently asked spinal cord questions

The art of spinal manipulation has been around for thousands of years, dating back to medicine men called “bone setters” at the time Socrates lived. Spinal manipulation, also known as spinal adjusting, is one of the most popular forms of treatment for many forms of back and neck pain.

Many clinicians such as physical therapists, chiropractors and physicians use spinal manipulation as a first line treatment option for spine pain. But despite its commonplace in modern medicine, there is still a shroud of mystery surrounding the logic and physical effects of a spinal adjustment. Continue Reading »

Helping spinal injury patients move forward

(PhysOrg.com) — When UC Irvine physician Dr. Suzy Kim arrives bedside in her wheelchair, patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries see a rolling testament to the power of early and intensive rehabilitation.

Kim was an athletic, third-year medical student who dreamed of becoming a sports doctor or trauma surgeon when she broke her neck bodysurfing in 1997. The accident initially left her unable to walk or use her hands. Continue Reading »

Ameristar makes record donation

Money helps VA Medical Center buy equipment

Ameristar’s workplace giving campaign presented a $236,000 donation to the VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Service, the largest donation ever received by the St. Louis VA SCI Service.

Ameristar team members presented a check to the VA on March 24 at the VA’s Jefferson Barracks location. The gift includes contributions from Ameristar St. Charles workers, the company and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. Continue Reading »

State Budget Puts Spinal Cord Injury Research in Jeopardy

State trooper Paul Richter was lying on the ground, looking up at the man who had just shot him. Death seemed all but certain. The Queens-born Richter had been shot in the leg, arm and neck while checking out a vehicle that had been used in the robbery of a sporting goods store, and the shooter seemed ready to finish him off.

“Nah, he’s dead,” the shooter’s accomplice said, giving Richter a reprieve. But the 1973 encounter in Lake Placid left Richter paralyzed for months. Eventually he was able to regain some function of his legs and can walk with the assistance of a cane. Continue Reading »

Little girl with spinal injury a big inspiration

Three months ago, 11-year-old Mackenzie Saunders injured her spinal cord
while playing soccer and was unable to walk.

The times that followed could have been her darkest hours. Instead, her irrepressible attitude has made her a star.

Her pain required three-times-a-day medication. The physical therapy toward getting her to walk might have brought tears to the eyes of someone twice her age. Continue Reading »

Showing the way

Local physical therapist pairs former patients with new patients to help newly disabled people learn how to cope

Jesse Gifford knows all too well how Matt Thomas feels these days.

Thomas has been confined to a wheelchair since July, when a mountain bike accident left him paralyzed. Gifford suffered a similar paralyzing injury almost 13 years ago after a diving accident. Continue Reading »