SCI Examination, Interventions, & Special Considerations Flashcards
Strengthening Interventions
- Strengthen functioning musculature with strength exercises and functional exercises
- Gravity eliminated positions for weaker muscle groups (<3/5)
STOMPS Strengthening and Optimal Movements for Painful Shoulders (Mulroy 2011)
HEP prescription
UMN Sign
Decreased inhibition at level of spinal cord
What do we initially see post SCI?
Spinal Shock (hypotonic, areflexic)
Over a few days to weeks, tone starts to kick in
Flexor spasms:
hip flexion, knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, great toe extension
Extensor Spasms:
- hip extension, knee extension, ankle plantar flexion
Negative impact of spasticity on mobility?
impede mobility
skin integrity
pain
disturbed sleep
decreased ROM → contractures
Positive impact of spasticity on mobility?
assist with mobility & stability
prevents atrophy
physiologic benefits(bone density, circulation)
PT Interventions for spasticity management
- passive movement/stretching
- active movement including FES
- direct muscle electrical stimulation interventions based on afferent stimulation
- interventions based on direct cord stimulation
- repetitive TMS
* Weak evidence, short term effects, lack of functional outcomes*
Special considerations of ROM for SCI?
“Normal” ROM is not always the goal, depending on the level of injury and impairment
What areas do we want decreased ROM?
- Finger flexors
- Thumb webspace
- Back extensors
What areas do we want increased ROM?
- Elbow flexors
- Wrist flexors
- Shoulder ER
- Shoulder extension
- Ankle DF
- Knee ext w/ hip flex
- Hip ER
- Hip extension
Functional Tenodesis
- Passive insufficiency of finger flexors, pulley system w/ forearm extensors
- Wrist extension: grasp
- Wrist flexion: release
2 ROM complications post SCI
- Contractures from resting posture, lack of mobility, and spasticity
- Heterotopic Ossification (commonly develops 1-4 months post)
Interventions for Heterotopic ossification
Gentle PROM, medication, surgery
- Will only operate when absolutely necessary bc recurrence rate is very high
PT intervention for ROM complications (ie contractures)
Self stretching HEP
Caregiver-assisted stretching HEP
Positioning (bed & WC) Orthotics - PRAFOs, AFOs, static progressive AFOs
Used for stretching or maintaining muscle length
6 aspects of SCI activity examination
- sitting balance
- bed mobility
- transfers
- wheelchair mobility
- standing balance
- gait
What is the foundation of everything else you will do for non-ambulatory patients?
sitting balance
3 positions of sitting balance
- long sitting
- short sitting
- ring sitting
Functional sitting positions and considerations
- UE positioning: anterior prop, posterior prop, no UEs –> KEEP FINGERS CURLED WITH UE WBing TO PRESERVE TENODESIS
- LE positioning: short sit, long sit, ring sit
Sitting Balance Strategies
- External Rotation of shoulders to allow for stability without triceps
- C Curve to utilize passive back extensor tightness for stability and create external trunk flexion moment
Movement/dynamic challenges for sitting balance interventions
- transitions between prop positions
- manual perturbations
- directional reaching
- lifting objects with weight
4 types of bed mobility
- rolling
- short sit to/from supine
- long sit to/from supine
- long sit to/from short sit
Bed mobility special considerations
Level of impairment
Fine motor control or not
Flexibility
Trunk control & balance
Adaptive equipment (bed ladder, leg loops, Dycem gloves)
How to decrease the challenge of rolling
3/4 supine with wedge, flex hip/knee, cross legs, elevating HOB
How to increase challenge of rolling
sheets, bed vs mat (softer surface), with or without shoes
Bed mobility strategies
Bed mobility strategies – scapular protraction, lead with head, momentum, ventilatory assist, break task down into parts (part to whole practice), mechanical advantage with large BOS (positioning UE far from trunk to prop for balance while maneuvering LEs)
Before transferring, what should you consider?
Upright tolerance
5 types of transfers
WC<>bed
WC<>tub
WC<>toilet
WC<>car
WC<>floor