When an accident occurs on any road, the first reaction all passers-by get is to automatically reach for their phones
and call emergency responders. Others may have training, so they are more likely to rush to the scene and try to rescue the casualties. One thing that responders usually caution against at this point is moving the casualty unless it is necessary. Why do they do this? To avoid the occurrence of spinal cord injuries.
The spinal cord is one of the least resilient parts of the human body. When you break a bone, your body will repair it in time. This is not the case with the spinal cord. Once an individual suffers a spinal cord injury, he or she will live with it for life. However, there are ways to manage some of the consequences of a spinal cord injury such as those offered by physical therapists in Palm Desert, CA.
What are the causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
A physical therapist in Palm Desert, CA can assess whether you have a spinal injury by looking for the following symptoms:
Muscle problems: When you have an injury to your spine, it may manifest as muscle spasms or weakness. The only way to understand how to prevent and manage spinal cord injuries and to design successful treatment plans for them is to know what causes them.
For most people the common cause of spinal injury is trauma. When you are involved in an accident, for example, your back undergoes trauma. This trauma on its own can cause spinal cord injury or the loss of blood to the spine could cause it. Similarly, a tumor that forms just beneath the spinal cord could cause spinal injury by compressing the vertebrae. The last reason you could have a spinal cord injury is when your spinal cord becomes infected after an accident or operation.
- Pain: if you have a spinal cord injury, you will experience sensations such as back pain. Alternatively, you may feel nothing at all when your back or limbs are prodded. There are those who will also not be able to distinguish between hot and cold injuries after suffering spinal cord injury.
- Other bodily malfunction: you may not be able to control your bladder when you have a spinal cord injury. Another side effect may be that you cannot perform sexually or may be infertile.
- Some people will experience bouts of pneumonia due to vertebrae injury.
The Role of Physical Therapy in dealing with Spinal Cord Injuries
The biggest impact that a spinal cord injury may have on you is that it will hinder your movement and affect the way you go about your daily routine. Some people who suffer from these injuries are never able to walk again whereas others are not able to work with their hands. Whatever the result of spinal cord injuries, physical therapists at New Beginning Physical Therapy will help you through them using the following methods of effective treatment:
- They will design individualized exercises that will help you strengthen your muscles and build your endurance. As such, these exercises will help you move about after surgery.
- Physical therapy at New Beginning Physical Therapy will enable you to regain your daily routine as by showing you how to economize your movements and do your duties while in your home.
- The physical therapists will help you redevelop your fine motor skills and advice you on how to prevent minor injuries as you move about
Physical therapy is necessary for those who want to go back to their normal lives after suffering spinal cord injuries. Sign up for physical therapy at New Beginning Physical Therapy today for faster recovery!