Spine Rehab Common Questions
Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for almost half of new spinal cord injuries each year. Car accidents are followed by falls, violence and sporting activities as the top sources of spinal injuries. Whether you’re kicking the soccer ball around with your kids or out for leisurely drive, a debilitating injury can happen at any time.
Our overall goal at Twin Boro — NJ’s premier physical therapists — is to help patients move better and return to activities faster. If you or a family member is dealing with a spinal injury, we’re sure you have some questions. Here are some of the common questions and answers that our NJ physical therapists get about sports and spine rehab.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)?
A spinal cord injury is damage to any part of the spine or nerves that can cause permanent changes in strength, sensation and other bodily functions.
After an injury to the spine, a patient’s sensory, motor messages and reflexes may become affected. Other symptoms often include pain, sensitivity to touch or temperature, muscle spasms and sexual dysfunction. Severe spinal cord injuries can also affect autonomous activity, such as breathing and bladder or bowel activity.
Did you know?
Spinal cord injuries tend to affect more men than women, and the majority of people who sustain a spinal cord injury are between the ages of 15 and 25 because of increased likelihood of risky behaviors.
What Are Common Causes of a SCI?
Most spinal cord injuries are due to traumatic events, often with motor vehicle accidents. Other common causes include falls, violence and sport injuries.
Did you know?
Almost all spinal problems begin with a decrease of flexibility
How Common Are Spine Injuries in Sports?
Sure, activities, such as recreational, collegiate and professional sports, put a tremendous amount of stress on the body. But, any sort of previous weakness in the spine can be aggravated by vigorous activity. Knowing the proper form, combined with tailored spine rehab exercises can help to prevent spinal injuries and keep them from causing back pain during and after physical activity.
Typically, the sports activities that have the highest risk of catastrophic spinal injuries include: football, ice hockey, wrestling, diving, skiing, snowboarding, rugby and cheerleading.
Did you know?
Close to 10% of all new cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States are related to sports activities.
What is Spine Rehab?
Spine rehab focuses on maximizing the patient’s independence and preventing secondary complications. Here at Twin Boro, we view the spine as the cornerstone to your body. Just as a cornerstone gives an archway its stability and strength, your spine is the link that allows your body to move how it’s intended. But, as cornerstone must be the right shape for the archway to be architecturally sound, the spine must have the appropriate mobility and strength for the body to be functionally sound.
Getting proper spine rehab and treatment and staying active after a debilitating sport injury is as important to continual recovery as quality nutrition and rest.
What Kind of Spine Rehab Does a Patient Usually Receive?
Using our proprietary One2Four advanced physical therapy techniques in all of our NJ offices, treatment options may range from moist heat applications, strength and mobility exercises, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and manual therapy. But, we don’t just address your pain point. We take the time to connect the dots, treat you as a whole person, including your spine and the muscles surrounding it, and address the root cause, so you can move and feel better again.
For example, if you come in for treatment at one of our New Jersey physical therapy locations with pain in your wrist or ankle, you can bet we’ll be assessing your spine. Pain in the extremities could be referral from the nerves coming from your spine (that’s a whole different topic for another post).
Call us at1-732-444-3578 or schedule an appointment to learn more about spine rehab services in New Jersey.
Why Choose Twin Boro Physical Therapy
Voted Readers’ Choice Best of New Jersey, Twin Boro has provided NJ residents with high quality physical therapy and rehab for over 38 years! It’s our award-winning approach, proven results and reputation that sets us apart. By incorporating the One2Four program into each patient’s program, the latest and most reliable scientific research and techniques are incorporated into effective evidence-based practice. We deliver only the highest standard of care with the unique One2Four approach.
It’s no surprise that Twin Boro Physical Therapy has also been voted the best physical therapy practice in New Jersey by the readers of mycentraljersey.com.
