September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month and this week is also National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. Each year, more than 18,000 people in the US experience a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and spend an average of 19 days in acute care and 37 days in inpatient rehabilitation. During that time, patients work with a dedicated group of rehabilitation professionals, including physicians and nurses who specialize in rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapists, mobility specialists and assistive technologists, and others. As they progress through rehabilitation, they spend less time with clinicians and physicians, and more time with therapists and technologists. Even after they leave the rehabilitation hospital, people with SCI may come back to these professionals for more services such as additional therapy, fitting for new mobility devices, or treatment for secondary conditions like pressure injuries.
If you or someone you know has recently experienced SCI, you’ll likely work with these rehabilitation professionals at several times in your life: gentle therapy during acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, returning to work and the community, and as you get older. Here are some resources from the NIDILRR grantee community to guide you through those times when you may be working with one or more rehabilitation providers. Several were developed by the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) in collaboration with researchers from 17 SCI Model System Centers across the country.
Newly injured or diagnosed
A person with SCI generally begins inpatient rehabilitation once they can handle several hours of intensive treatment per day. Each person’s care is unique, but these guides may help in learning what to expect during rehabilitation.
- Get started with A Guide to Inpatient Rehabilitation Services for People with SCI and the Understanding SCI information module, including learning about the body before and after injury, and about recovery and rehabilitation. (MSKTC)
- Learn about exoskeletal-assisted walking, functional electrical stimulation, and gait training, which may be options during early rehabilitation. (MSKTC)
Back to the community
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and assistive technology experts can help in transitioning back to home, school, work, and community. Use these programs and decision aids to help in staying mobile and getting back to work.
- Learn and practice safe wheelchair transfer techniques and how to maintain your mobility equipment. (University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury)
- Work with an occupational therapist on finding workplace accommodations. (Workplace Accommodation Expert Support System (Work ACCESS)).
Long term health management
Your rehabilitation care team can help you keep an eye on your health and wellness. Use these tools with your provider to help stay healthy as you get older.
- Monitor your urinary tract health with your care team. (Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Health and Function for People with Physical Disabilities Focused on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction)
- Understand the risk for falls, unintentional injuries, and pressure injuries. (Health, Employment, and Longevity Project)
These are just a few examples of the research-based resources developed by the NIDILRR grantee community to support people with SCI and their rehabilitation providers as they navigate post-injury life. Visit MSKTC for a full suite of information resources and learn about their SCI Ambassador Program. You can also contact our information specialists for help in finding local and national resource, or to explore the latest research in SCI rehab and recovery!