Correct posture for patients with spinal cord injury or paralysis

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Placing the correct posture for patients with spinal cord injury helps keep the balance of opposing muscle forces in the body that can harm the patient causing balance disorders, increased muscle tone... at the same time. interfere with the patient's proper access to the environment, thereby limiting the patient's remaining capacity. Furthermore, correct posture helps to prevent and limit or correct complications from ulcers or stiffness.

1. Injury to the spinal cord

The spinal cord travels from the brain to the bottom along the spine, and the spinal cord is located in the spinal canal. Along with the spinal cord, nerves radiate throughout the body. Both sensory and motor information flows through the spinal cord. When spinal cord injury occurs, it will reduce or lose the sensory and motor functions of the body at the injury site.
Spinal cord injury occurs when a part of the spinal cord is damaged resulting in affecting the respective body parts controlled by the spinal cord. The extent of spinal cord injury includes:
Injury to the spinal cord in the neck region causing quadriplegia, including the inability to move the arms and legs, and the loss of sensation in the arms and legs, these cases can completely paralyzed. If the position of the back is damaged, there will be motor paralysis and loss of sensation in both legs as well as the body below the damaged spinal cord, these cases are spinal paralysis. Spinal cord injury is mainly caused by traffic accidents, labor accidents, accidents caused by daily activities. Diseases involving the spinal cord, such as those with myelosuppression, are on the rise as cases of spinal cord injury are also increasing rapidly.

2. Difficulties that people with spinal cord injuries may face

Difficulties that people with spinal cord injuries face during movement:
Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries will have difficulty moving their legs and arms and the lower body position with spinal cord level injured A person with an injury from the back down will not be able to move the legs and part of the body. Because the patient is unable to move, he cannot walk and has many difficulties in daily life. People with spinal cord injuries may lose sensation in the skin, so the patient's skin can easily become ulcerated and thin without realizing it. Difficulties that people with spinal cord injury face in the process of self-care
People with spinal cord injuries will have difficulty performing daily activities such as brushing teeth, washing face, go to the toilet, shower and take care of your body. But, sick people can also take care of themselves and do many things for themselves with the right guidance and support from family members. Difficulties faced by people with spinal cord injuries due to psychological changes
Most people with spinal cord injuries are older children or young people who are of working age. When the spinal cord is damaged, the patient loses all ability to move and feel in a part of the body such as the dead part. The patient's family and the patient himself do not accept this easily. They feel extremely scared and do not know how they will live in the future. They become depressed, frustrated, irritable and don't even cooperate with anyone, they even refuse to use a wheelchair because if they do, it means they will accept the truth. they cannot walk.

Difficulties experienced by people with spinal cord injuries because learning activities can be disrupted and affected
When the person with spinal cord injury is a child of school age, it can cause disruption or unable to continue with school due to difficulty walking or skin, urinary tract, intestinal problems, which the child cannot control. On the other hand, due to psychological changes, children themselves and their families do not want to continue studying. Difficulties that people with spinal cord injuries face in maintaining jobs that they could do on their own. work. Therefore, it is necessary to help them find jobs that are suitable for their current situation. Difficulties that people with spinal cord injury face in society and at home
People with spinal cord injury have difficulty participating in family or social work, and they will become a burden on their families and society festival. So, helping them get the right job will help them feel confident in themselves and will try to do better.

3. Correct posture technique for people with spinal cord injury and paralysis

Correct posture technique is indicated for people with spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis of four limbs or both legs. However, in case the patient is still in an emergency situation, this will not be done carefully.

3.1. Correct posture in bed for patients with spinal cord injury or paralysis

For the upper extremities: Place the arm along the patient's body, trying to make sure the whole arm is supported to avoid edema and pain for the patient. Shoulders and shoulder blades should be supported to avoid performing such a strenuous position that could cause pain to the patient. The hands are placed so that there is a tendon lock - wrist flexion: curl the fingers, the wrist is in a slight extension of about 30 degrees, the metatarsal-knuckles and medial joints The knuckles are kept in a 90-degree flexion, the distal interphalangeal joints are in a neutral 0-degree position. Or the hand position is at rest with the wrist extended 30 degrees, the metacarpal knuckles flexed 45 degrees, the medial interphalangeal joints slightly flexed.
For lower extremities: Hips and knees are placed straight and hips are set at 30 degrees using pillows for wedges. Side lying position can use more pillows, between the knees, and close to the lower back to reduce the hand for the sacrum and keep the feet can rotate regularly at night. Also reduce the load under the heel by maintaining a 90 degree dorsal flexion.

3.2 Correct sitting posture in a chair or wheelchair

The ideal sitting posture is on a horizontal plane and is created with hips flexed 90 degrees, knees bent 90 degrees, insteps flexed 90 degrees, feet resting close to the support. The pelvis will pass through three spatial planes: the two anterior superior iliac spines are equal and horizontal in the plane, the anterior superior iliac spine is vertical relative to the great trochanter, the knees are parallel to the face. forehead flat. The legs are supported by two footrests so that the lower thighs can come into contact with the seat support, and an additional foam pad or cushion can be used to protect the heels. The spine needs to be kept straight and steady. The height of the backrest of the wheelchair should be adjusted according to the level of balance and the degree of spinal cord injury in a high or low position. The upper limbs are kept stable and symmetrical thanks to the armrest adjustment. For patients with quadriplegia: the two hands must always be placed in the functional hand position. The neck and head should avoid bending, stretching, leaning or any tension. Additional headrests may be used to provide support and comfort to the patient.
At the Rehabilitation Department of Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, there is a function of physiotherapy and rehabilitation for all inpatients and outpatients for patients in Hanoi and the region. In the North (both Vietnamese and foreigners), in the fields of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics ...
Faculty has the strength of strong techniques in Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation. Effective treatment support for cases of some musculoskeletal and spinal diseases, in order to increase the success rate of the treatment, limit the recurrence to the lowest level and speed up the process. short-term treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital is equipped with a system of modern machinery and equipment, effectively supporting the treatment process with a high success rate, helping musculoskeletal, musculoskeletal, and spinal nerves to recover. rehabilitation and mobility. There are many good, highly skilled doctors with full practice certificates, along with a team of well-trained technicians who are very dedicated in the process of treatment and rehabilitation. Treatment and rehabilitation programs give good results, meeting the needs and desires of customers.

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