Spinal injury
Activity-based rehab is still a relatively new therapy, but it holds vast potential in the treatment and recovery of spinal cord injury, says one of the field’s leading experts, Dr Rebecca Martin.
More than 15 million people around the world are thought to be living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), yet advancements in research and treatments have been limited in recent decades. That could be about to change, with a growing evidence base supporting the use of activity-based rehab for recovering spinal activity following an injury. One of those spearheading this research is Dr Rebecca Martin, manager of Clinical Education and Training at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and an assistant professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr Martin is conducting studies on the impact of activity-based therapy in combination with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS), with some promising potential, particularly in paediatric patients. She talks to NR Times about the most promising advancement in neurorehab she has seen in her 18-year career — and why her patients keep her focused on finding better treatments.
A leading charity focused on spinal cord injury, Spinal Research, is driving a major new initiative aimed at unlocking the UK’s potential for cutting edge research into spinal cord injury.
UK charity Spinal Research has made top level changes as ground breaking research and treatments bring its vision of curing paralysis and improving spinal injury care closer.
Discover: - How the organisation's new Chief Vision Officer role reflects its ambition to revolutionise spinal care - What Spinal Research will be working on in the coming years - How Spinal Research aims to coordinate international work on innovative therapeutics
After a humiliating incident at her local NHS trust, Dani Czernuszka-Watts, joined forces with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) to campaign for gender equity in healthcare.
Subscribe to read Dani's story and find out more about a new campaign aiming to bring change and equity in women’s healthcare.
Through the tireless dedication of Carol Adcock, a specialist nurse at the Spinal Injuries Association, change is taking effect in frontline healthcare to help improve - and even save - the lives of SCI patients. NR Times meets selfless Carol, winner of the NR Times Above and Beyond Award 2023, sponsored by BIS Services, to learn [...]
News this week from the US health insurance world has provided encouragement for those pushing to increase access to rehab-based exoskeletons.
For the first time, Medicare, the US federal health insurance programme, has made a payment to rehab tech developer ReWalk for its wearable robotic device that allows paraplegics to walk again. The ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton enables powered hip and knee motion for people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), allowing them to stand upright, walk, turn, and climb up and down stairs. According to reports, the payment of US$94,617 to ReWalk was made via Medicare administrative contractor Noridian Healthcare Solutions. It could be a sign that the news represents recognition of exoskeletons as medically necessary for people with an SCI.
Ruth Hunt, a journalist and columnist who lives with spinal cord injury, on what she believes is a concerning reduction in access to in-person appointments.
In-person monitoring appointments for long-term patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have now, in many cases, been replaced with remote calls, either by phone or video; meaning many of those with substantial needs are not getting a regular face to face appointment with their spinal team putting them at risk of harm. Using remote methods, such as phone or video calls for appointments with doctors is something we have seen in primary care. But it hasn’t stopped there, such appointments have seeped into secondary services, such as spinal cord injury centres (SCIC). This has caused alarm as the research regarding remote appointments in primary care reveals serious safety concerns for some patients. Could this be the case for those using secondary services like those living with SCI?
Through his role as a personal trainer, Tom Green is helping people with mobility disabilities achieve their ambitions and potential
World-leading adaptive athlete calls for fairness after being denied win in major global event through rule change
This week seven expert panellists came together to look ahead to the future of spinal injury recovery, care and innovation. The webinar was the latest in an ongoing series of virtual events addressing key issue in spinal injury and neuro rehab. Joining host Alastair MacColl around the table were: Rachael Aram, Partner, Irwin Mitchell Nicholas [...]
