Created By:
Julianna Nania
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SCI – Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord is, “The major bundle of
nerves carrying impulses to and from the
brain to the rest of the body. Rings of
bone, called vertebrae, surround the
spinal cord. These bones constitute the
spinal column or back bones.”
Causes:
 Can be congenital:
▪ Polio or Spina Bifida
 Can be acquired:
▪ Car accidents, sports injuries, sometimes arthritis
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SCI statistics
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Anatomy of the Spine:
 The spine consists of 33
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vertebrae, including the
following:
7 cervical (neck)
12 thoracic (upper back)
5 lumbar (lower back)
5 sacral* (sacrum-located within the
pelvis)
4 coccygeal* (coccyx-located within the
pelvis)
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Complete
 Total lack of sensory and motor
function below the level of injury
▪ Quadriplegic
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Incomplete
 Spinal cord still has the ability to
convey messages to and from the
brain is not completely lost
 Some movement and sensation is
still possible below the level of injury
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Classifications:
 Quadriplegia- all four limbs are affected
▪ Loss of movement and sensation
▪ Occurs at T1 or above
▪ Also affect breathing and chest muscles
 Paraplegia- 2 limbs are effected (legs)
▪ Loss of movement and sensation
▪ Occurs at T1 and below
 Triplegia- 3 limbs are affected (one arm and two legs)
▪ Loss of movement and sensation
▪ Results from incomplete SCI
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Muscle weakness
Loss of feeling in the trunk, arms, or legs
Muscle spasticity
Breathing problems
 respiratory infections
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Problems with heart rate and blood pressure
Digestive problems
 ulcers
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Pressure Soars
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If an accident happens and SCI occurs:
 “25% to 57% of persons with SCI might have a concomitant traumatic
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brain injury”
“Difficulties with attention, concentration, memory, problem solving,
abstract reasoning, new learning, and high-level cognitive skills”
Will have to go through rehabilitation for memory if traumatic brain
injury occurs with SCI.
Learn basic skills such as eating, talking, processing, along with
physical movement
If born with SCI cognitive functions are usually normal unless born
with a cognitive disability as well
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Can be very social still with SCI
 SCI students can educate friends or
family
 SCI students can ask for help or inform
their friends/family if they can do things
independently
Paraplegic can be independent and social in
a wheelchair
 Play sports such as wheelchair
basketball, sit volleyball, modified
skiing, etc.
Quadriplegic will be dependent on many
people due to the lack of movement in their
body
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Quadriplegic
 will not be able to physically exercise on their own
 Respiratory fitness
▪ Beat-boxing
 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Exercise
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Paraplegic Lower body is affected with physical exercise
 Can still use upper body
 Lifting Weights
 Wheelchair pushing
 Wheelchair aerobics
 Swimming
 Hand cycling
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Area’s of fitness
Affected Cardiovascular
conditioning
 Muscle strength
 Muscle
endurance is
 Stretching for
flexibility
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Arm bicycles
Rowing Machines (Wheelchair accessible)
Weight lifting
 Free weights
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Stretching
 Reduces spasticity in the muscles
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Sports
 Wheelchair Tennis
 Wheelchair Basketball
 Power chair Soccer
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Find these activities through a local gym (weight lifting),
yoga programs
Special Olympics
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Respect SCI student’s personal
space- teacher and other students
 Only touch wheelchair if student
asks for help
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Lower nets for students in
wheelchairs
 Students without SCI can play on
their knees
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Larger Ball
 Volleyball – Omnikin ball
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Softball
 Use a tee, put bases closer together
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No activities that will cause further damage
to the spine
 Protective wheelchairs for certain sports
▪ Wheelchair basketball
▪ Powerchair Soccer
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Only do what is comfortable
 Know what their body can handle
▪ Ex: when lifting
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National Spinal Cord Injury Association
 Support groups
 Part of their Mission: “We provide active-lifestyle
information, peer support and advocacy that empower
individuals to achieve their highest potential in all facets of
life.”
 http://www.spinalcord.org/
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American Spinal Cord Association
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Provides a professional Journal about spinal cord injuries
Provides research all about spinal cord injuries
Holds annual meetings
http://www.asia-spinalinjury.org/index.php
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Chair Volleyball
 Adapted Volleyball for students with Spinal Cord Injuries
▪ Quadriplegic (upper body)
▪ Students in wheelchairs can stay in wheelchair
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Rules:
 Buttocks remains in chair at all times
 Net is the same height as normal or can be brought down
 3 touches per side
 Goal is the same as normal volleyball
 Rally scoring
 6 folding chairs per side
 Beach ball
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMZj7cv8xeI
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Ann, M. Warren, J., Pullins, & T., Elliott (2008). Concomitant Cognitive Impairment in
Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries in Rehabilitation Settings. Retrieved from
http://people.cehd.tamu.edu/~telliott/documents/Warren-PullinsElliott%20chapter%20edited%202008.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/spinal-cord-injury/DS00460.html - CNN Health
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.4514603/- Christopher and
Dana Reeve Foundation
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-spinal-cord-injurymedref - WebMD
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/physical_medicine_and_re
habilitation/spinal_cord_injury_85,P01180/- John Hopkins Medicine
http://sci.washington.edu/info/forums/reports/universal_fitness.asp#cardio –
Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System
http://www.ncpad.org/111/860/Spinal~Cord~Injury~and~Exercise -NCHPAD
http://dsp.berkeley.edu/TeachStudentsWithDisab.html - Berkeley University of
California, Disabled Students’ Program
http://www.auburn.edu/~brocksj/4360hastietext/brock02_final.pdf -Auburn University
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http://webpages.shepherd.edu/TDARNL01/volleyball.htm - Chair Volleyball
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