What is a spinal cord injury and how will this condition affect me?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts nerve function between the brain and body, leading to varying impairments. There are two main types:
- Complete SCI: Total loss of sensation and movement below the injury.
- Incomplete SCI: Some sensory or motor function remains below the injury.
Causes include trauma (e.g., accidents, falls, sports injuries) and non-traumatic factors (e.g., infections, tumours, degenerative diseases). Symptoms range from paralysis and sensation loss to breathing difficulties, spasms, bowel and bladder issues, pain, sexual dysfunction, autonomic changes, and sweating loss.
How can GNC help?
Traditional perceptions imply that functional gains in spinal cord injury recovery peak within 3-6 months, with therapy typically focusing only on areas above the injury level. At the Geelong Neuro Centre, we take a holistic approach, targeting both above and below the injury level in our evidence-based therapy. Our aim is to enhance mobility, strength, and overall well-being, facilitating independence and preventing secondary complications.
- Manual Therapy to support pain, mobility and function
- Equipment prescription; gait aids, standing frames
- Wheelchair Skills
- Transfer training
- Range of motion and mobility
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (RT300 Bike)
- Assisted Weight Bearing
- Sitting Balance and motor control
- Body Weight Support Treadmill Training
- Hydrotherapy
- Cardiovascular Health
- Strength training
- Assisted Weight Bearing
- Sitting Balance and motor control
- Body Weight Support Treadmill Training
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (RT300 Bike)
- Wheelchair Skills
- Transfer training
- Hydrotherapy
- Upper limb rehabilitation including tone management
- Prescription of assistive technology
- Home and environmental modifications
- Sexual health and intimacy education and support
- Wheelchair, seating and positioning
- Pressure care management
- Functional retraining
- Vehicle modifications
- Pain management using interX device
- Carer training
- Speech, language, and communication assessment and retraining
- Social communication support relating to participation in kinder, school, programs and workplace.
- Swallowing assessment and management strategies
- Cognitive-communication rehabilitation
- AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) assessment and prescription
- Communication Partner Training (CPT) for swallowing and communication
- LiteGait
- Saebo
- AAC – Neuronode, UNO touch and Eye Gaze software
- RT 300 Upper Limb and Lower Limb FES Bike
- Theratrainer
- InterX
- X-Sensor Pressure Mapping System
- Vesticam googles
- BiSSkiT software: Biofeed in Strength and Skill Training for swallowing