Have you recently sustained a spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injuries can greatly impact your life and result in pain, limitations, and daily hindrances. This is especially true if your spinal cord injury resulted in a Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), which is essentially a traumatic brain injury.
Fortunately, our physical therapists are highly trained and experienced in helping patients regain motion, relieve pain, and reclaim life. We serve patients at the following locations:
Spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries
An injury to the spinal cord could also result in an injury to the brain. This occurs because the central nervous system consists of both the brain and the spinal cord, so an injury to one could affect the other.
While it is undeniably shocking to undergo an injury to both the spinal cord and the brain, our team is well-equipped to help you find relief from both.
In fact, according to Choose PT, “therapists will work with the patient, family, and other health care providers to develop goals and an individualized treatment plan to address the challenges and functional limitations associated with the injury.”
Our highly trained physical therapists will evaluate the severity of your injury and prescribe a custom recovery plan, often coordinating with occupational therapy when needed, which may include:
- Gentle exercises: To increase strength and improve mobility.
- Targeted stretches: To reduce muscle tension and discomfort.
- Specialized modalities: To alleviate painful symptoms and improve brain functionality.
- Individualized strategies: To address the specific challenges of your central nervous system recovery.
How can I find relief?
Physical therapy eases pain and helps you regain movement after a spinal cord injury, addressing both acute and chronic pain patterns.
In your first visit, we check strength, sensation, and balance, then build a plan that fits your goals. Treatment may include:
- Gentle stretching and range-of-motion drills to keep joints flexible
- Strength exercises for any working muscles to support the spine
- Breathing and posture training to protect the lungs and reduce pressure sores
- Balance, standing, or gait practice, often with body-weight support, when safe
- Pain-relieving methods such as ice, heat, or electrical stimulation
These steps reduce pain, lower the risk of spasm, and make daily tasks easier. Ready to get started? Request an appointment today.
Key takeaways
- Comprehensive care: Physical therapy helps patients regain motion and manage pain following spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
- Integrated treatment: Since the central nervous system includes both the brain and spinal cord, therapists address the functional limitations of both simultaneously.
- Individualized plans: Treatment includes custom exercises, gentle stretches, and specialized modalities tailored to the injury’s severity.
- Local access: Specialized care is available across multiple locations in Utah, Idaho, and Montana.
Schedule A PT Visit in Utah, Idaho, Or Montana
Ready to move forward with effective care for your spinal cord injury? Find a location near you or contact Mountain Land Physical Therapy Partners today to make an appointment and allow our skilled professionals to guide you back to health. We’ll be there for you every step of the way!
Frequently asked questions
What does physical therapy do for a spinal cord injury?
Physical therapy helps you keep healthy joints, build any remaining muscle strength, and retrain nerves to improve movement. It also prevents problems such as pressure sores, tight muscles, and breathing issues. The goal is to help you stay as active and independent as possible.
What types of therapy are used after a spinal cord injury?
Rehab often combines several methods, with approximately 80% of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury regaining ambulatory ability after participation in a rehabilitation program, including:
- Task-specific exercises and strength training
- Body-weight–supported treadmill or over-ground walking practice
- Electrical stimulation to wake up weak muscles
- Wheelchair skills and transfer training
- Breathing, stretching, and posture drills to prevent complications
Your therapist picks the right mix based on your injury level and goals.
How is a spinal cord injury rehab program structured?
Rehab moves through three main phases, similar to our post-surgical rehabilitation approach:
- Acute: Gentle movement, breathing work, and skin protection in the hospital.
- Sub-acute: Strength, balance, transfers, and wheelchair training in an outpatient or rehab center.
- Long-term: Ongoing exercise, community mobility, and lifestyle coaching to stay active at home, with home therapy options available when needed.
Your plan adjusts as you improve, and goals are reviewed often.
Can someone with a spinal cord injury walk again?
Many people regain at least some walking ability, especially after an incomplete injury, with studies showing that 20% to 75% recover some degree of walking capacity by 1 year post-injury. Intensive training, such as body-weight-supported walking or robotic exoskeleton practice, can stimulate nerve pathways and improve leg movement. Results vary by injury level and overall health, so your therapist will set realistic goals with you.