SPINAL CORD INJURY
AA physical therapist plays an integral role in your recovery after a life-altering spinal cord injury (SCI). This healthcare professional is there throughout much of your spinal cord injury rehabilitation to help guide you toward achieving optimal gains during the recovery process.
Rehabilitation therapy is commonly a multidisciplinary approach that involves multiple healthcare professionals ranging from nurses and case managers to psychologists and physical and occupational therapists. The team typically works under the direction of a physiatrist or SCI physician, and each job plays a different but essential role in your recovery. This therapy can take place in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or at an SCI-focused specialized facility such as an activity-based therapy (ABT) center.
The quality of care received after a spinal cord injury matters. If you or someone you loved has recently sustained an SCI, here is a breakdown of what a physical therapist does throughout the spinal cord injury rehabilitation process.
Over the past several decades, the focus of spinal cord injury rehabilitation has shifted from issues of medical management to those that affect daily life and participation in the community. At its core, the purpose of spinal cord injury rehabilitation is to:
- Maximize your sensory and motor function recovery,
- Prevent secondary complications and health issues, and
- Help you reintegrate with society.