I was looking around some well known and reputable sites for information on the benefits of aggresive exercise post SCI and i came across info of how Christopher Reeve made some improvements in function some years after his initial injury.
He had a strict regime of exercise and it paid off..I thought his was a great example to use as he had such a high level injury and had put a vigorous regime into his daily life and actually made some significant improvements. Ok it wasnt enough to give him function back such as mobility and bladder/bowel but he did make some improvements in movements.
Christopher Reeve demonstrated to the world that he had recovered some movement and sensation. While he could not walk, did not regain bowel, bladder, or sexual function, nor could he breathe without a ventilator, his limited recovery was significant. The scientific literature on spinal cord injury predicts that most recovery will occur in the first six months after injury and that it is generally complete within two years. Reeve’s recovery, coming five to seven years after his injury, defies these medical expectations and had a dramatic effect on his daily life.
Why did he get better so long after his injury? Reeve believed his improved function was the result of vigorous physical activity. He began exercising the year he was injured. Five years later, when he first noticed that he could voluntarily move an index finger, Reeve began an intense exercise program under the supervision of Dr. John McDonald at Washington University in St. Louis.
Read more about how he achieved this...its interesting..click on the link that will take you to the page that goes into more detail: www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.4453461/ From my own experience...i left my rehab unit still using my chair as my main form of mobility...partly due to my walking gait with two crutches exhausted me but also caused me pain.
It is now 18 months since i left my unit and i decided 6 months ago to join a local gym so i could 'push' myself to see what i could improve. I was surprised at the strength that i developed in some muscles that i thought had no hope of improvements being made.
So never give up working at it to make what improvements you can..you may be pleasantly surprised!
Of course before entering an exercise regime...consult with your doctor/physio first for advice.
I actually did a presentation on C.Reeve and his recovery really goes to show that SCI is a complicated injury and every injury really is different. I think regularly exercising is very important for everyone, ABs and gimps alike. For SCIs, it can make a bigger difference in our quality of life since some of us deal with more issues.
Post by kilg0retr0ut on Aug 29, 2013 5:02:17 GMT -8
You don't need much equipment freewheeler. I started with range of motion exercises, then floor exercises, then some resistance bands. Maybe mention it to your doctor, a P.T. should be able to set you up a safe routine to get you started.
I've recently started to get on my MotoMed leg bike every morning for about an hour or 30 mins at the very least. I'm going to continue doing this everyday and will start using my arm bike closer to the winter season. I shall wait and see if there are any improvements! freewheeler, you really don't need anything like kilg0retr0ut has mentioned but if you can, try getting on a MotoMed or a FES bike! Do you do any standing at the moment?
Guys! I want some exercise tips badly, i need this limp gone,its not a cool look :facepalm:. Im lazy so i need a personal trainer to come and kick my lazy butt outta bed!
I've recently started to get on my MotoMed leg bike every morning for about an hour or 30 mins at the very least. I'm going to continue doing this everyday and will start using my arm bike closer to the winter season. I shall wait and see if there are any improvements! freewheeler, you really don't need anything like kilg0retr0ut has mentioned but if you can, try getting on a MotoMed or a FES bike! Do you do any standing at the moment?
That sounds great DJ, i look forward to hearing about your progress. I think i may too invest in a bike of somesort as now i am feeling i need the exercise. My legs are doing too little :-(
angel...you mean a nice hunky trainer will be worth getting out of bed for maybe? lol
Continued exercise is a must, in my book. At 4.5 years post, I am still gaining strength and making small improvements in control, not dramatic, but meaningful practically. This more remarkable with a chronic and progressive disease, which was the cause of my paralysis. Exercise is most effective for me when I am pushing my limits. Also helps with maintaining bowel health, reducing pain, and improving mood (endorphins).
wavewolf, I'm just over 2 years post injury and I too definitely feel that I benefit from exercise. When it comes to muscle strengthening, I guess there really isn't a limit!
wavewolf, I'm just over 2 years post injury and I too definitely feel that I benefit from exercise. When it comes to muscle strengthening, I guess there really isn't a limit!
I am the mother of a C5 Incomplete Quadriplegic, my daughter started her exercise program 9 month after sustaining her injury, and 9 days after leaving the rehabilitation hospital in Australia. Exercise is so important for someone with an SCI to remain healthy, awaken dormant muscles & nerves, it also prevents pressure sores if done correctly. 4 years on and she still exercises, watches her food intake, participates in Hydrotherapy and has regular massage therapy and acupuncture, I believe this had truly made a difference to her recovery. I am also part of a wonderful organisation called The Next Step SCI Recovery & Wellness Centre in Melbourne Australia, where their vision and mission is to keep the mind & the body healthy. I am also a Disability Support Worker that works with many people with an SCI and have found so much improvement with clients who exercise. Even if you cannot move your body to exercise it, get someone to move it for you, but always seek the correct way to move the body from an Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist, over extension and injuries can occur if you exercise incorrectly. One of my friends who is a paraplegic has made practical recovery after 15 years and another after 10 years so the timing factor did not apply to them. My daughter takes vitamins such as magnesium powder, vitamin D, Proboitics to support her immune system also, she stop taking all the medications prescribed whilst she was in hospital, whilst she was in hospital and now only takes all natural products.
Every individual is different, but I am hearing more and more stories of recovery, strength and functional movement, if you exercise and maintain your general well being, but remember to also have a healthy balance as having a life after a spinal cord injury is so important.
Welcome to the forum shaz08 and thankyou for your post!
Its great to hear of your daughters progress and the way the recovery has been pro-active. It definitely helps and makes a difference.
Its also very promising that we are hearing more stories of Spinal Cord Injury sufferers making improvements even much later than the often referred to recovery phase of approximately two years.
We have to all keep working hard at making improvements.....there is no defined limit on what can be achieved so lets just go for it and see what we can achieve!
Hey there shaz08, welcome to the forum! I'm really happy that your daughters still recovering! It goes to show that the 1 or 2 year recovery window that the doctors give means nothing. Exercise is definitely important for people with spinal cord injuries.
Feel free to post up an introduction in our introductions section found here
Ive been reflecting of my own recovery over the past 2.5 years and thought i would share what i have done/learnt.
At the time of my injury i was not able to stand at all unaided and I had to be supported by two people...to hold me up hence my time was spent in a chair. Within two weeks i had developed 3 bloodclots in my legs....this prevented physio whilst i waited 6 months for the clots to be treated.
Then it was a further 2 months before i was admitted to a spinal unit...so then i can say that my actual working progress began 21 months ago. This was when i started my rehabilitation at the unit. I was still pretty weak....i had bladder and bowel issues that i had not been given any help with so this was almost one year post injury.
At the unit they got me started walking between the bars with a physio in front and behind me....then onto crutches...unfortunately towards the end of my time at the unit, i developed the start of carpel tunnel syndrome from the over wheeling (or over zealous chair rugby lol).....and severe pain in my back from the walking practice and dreaded wobble board lol.
I had to wear splints on both my hands and i remember how much my transfers were affected due to the pain and weakness in my wrists......its surprising how much difference it made to my independence!
So i continued my physio with the help of strong pain meds and wearing a tense machine to try to relieve the pain....i remember at the time my consultant was worried that i had burst another disc and the thought of another op, freaked me out. Luckily...the pain was just my over enthusiasm
I left the unit 3 months later still in my chair but at least being able to transfer to and from the car to my house on crutches....which was easier...unless it was a slippy day! haha
This brought me to 18 months ago....and i continued to pursue my upright mobility...gradually increasing the length of walking with my crutches each day....but there wasnt really significant improvement.
So a few months later i decided to join the local gym to try and build up my stamina and muscle strength,......this was approximately a year ago....and here the improvements started ..yay!!!
I went to the gym almost every day....and ate healthy to promote some weight loss.....and basically worked my butt off!.....now im sometimes going to the gym twice a day....i cant use everything i want to but i am managing to get on some decent equipment...and its made a world of difference!
I can walk relatively well with one crutch now for some period and at home i can potter about carefully with none..so long as i dont overdo it!
and i am going to continue to work as hard as i possibly can to reach my goal......so just wanted to share
Lαrα, that's some really great progress/recovery! All that hard work wasn't for nothing as you can see so keep up the great work! I've been doing physio 3 times a week (5 hours total) since getting discharged from rehab and I've definitely gotten stronger. I didn't have any recovery in my lower body but my upper body is quite strong for my level of injury in my opinion. I've started to go on my leg bike (MotoMed) almost every morning now for an hour (as I've already mentioned earlier in this thread) and it's just a good feeling knowing that I tried hard to work them out. We'll only keep getting stronger so I'm curious to see what I'll be like in a few years. Maybe we'll all be walking then
Hi, I am new to this group and love your post. My spinal cord injury happened 07/03/13 by a Dr. and nurse in the operating room. I had a big herniated disc at C5 and on the last step of the surgery the Dr. didn't know that the nurse didn't put the guard on the drill till he went through the whole vertebra and hit my spinal cord. I knew when they woke me up something was wrong and at 1st I thought I had a stoke, I looked over and asked my husband and he said no and just started crying. The Dr. came over and told me what had happened in the OR room and I started scream at him. Nurses where running around calling ICU and telling them to hurry up and get a room ready. I spent over 36 hours in the ICU. The 1st nurse I had in ICU noticed I was trying to move my right hand and leg. He stayed in my room most of his shift and worked with me. I did not or wanted to give up that I would use my right side again. I was released 2 days after surgery. I could barely walk and use my right hand/arm. My youngest daughter had to shower me the 1st few weeks and everyone had to help do EVERYTHING. A physical therapist that had been following my case since the middle of April immediately had me start hand therapy a week after surgery and right side physical therapy 5 weeks after surgery. He has not let me take a break. I go to physical therapy up to 4 days week, hand therapy 2-3 days a week, speech therapy 2 days a week. Plus I have pages and pages of home exercises I have to do 2-3 times a day. I have developed issues on my left side from over use so now we had to add exercises to that side to. I am almost 4 months post OP and have almost 1/2 strength back on the right, I can walk about 15 minutes till the right leg is done. They said I will never have the feeling back on the right side of my thumb and left side of my pointer finger and up to my wrist. It is hard on my bad painful days to do physical therapy but after I do work out.....I feel like I have done something to help heal myself.....I refuse to let this Dr and nurse ruin the rest of life!!!