Okuzeka
Physiotherapy vocabulary · Neurological Rehabilitation

Spinal cord injury

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, spinal cord injury means: Damage to the spinal cord, from trauma or disease, that can cause loss of movement and feeling below the level of the injury.

In Turkish: omurilik yaralanması

How it is used

Often shortened to SCI. Injuries are described by their level and by whether they are complete or incomplete. Damage in the neck can affect all four limbs (tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia); damage lower down affects the legs (paraplegia). Physiotherapists work on breathing, transfers, wheelchair skills and, where possible, walking.

Example sentences

  1. He has an incomplete spinal cord injury at T10 and is starting to take steps in the parallel bars.

  2. Rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury often takes many months.

Common collocations

  • complete spinal cord injury
  • incomplete spinal cord injury
  • level of injury
  • spinal injuries unit
  • transferMoving a patient from one surface to another, for example from bed to chair, chair to toilet or wheelchair to car.
  • spasticityIncreased stiffness and tightness in muscles caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord, which gets stronger the faster the muscle is stretched.
  • rehabilitationThe process of helping a person recover strength, movement and independence after an injury, illness or operation, or adapt to a lasting disability.
  • muscle toneThe natural level of tension in a resting muscle, felt as resistance when the physiotherapist moves a relaxed limb.

More terms: Neurological Rehabilitation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.