spinal cord injury, Exercise Benefits, Zone 2 Derek Jones spinal cord injury, Exercise Benefits, Zone 2 Derek Jones

Zone 2 Training for Spinal Cord Injuries?Unlocking the Benefits of Low-Intensity Cardio for Health and Performance

In this article, we explore whether Zone 2 training can aid individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Zone 2 cardiovascular training, characterised by moderate-intensity exercise where the body primarily uses fat as fuel and maintains a steady heart rate, can benefit persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI). However, its suitability depends on the level and completeness of the injury, as well as the individual's physical condition and training goals.

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spinal cord injury, rehabilitation Derek Jones spinal cord injury, rehabilitation Derek Jones

Measuring performance in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: New possibilities?

Many of us today walk around or exercise with products that sense many aspects of our daily activity. Smartphones and sensor developments mean that we can be more in tune with what is happening to our health and fitness. My Suunto watch monitors my heart rate and heart rate variability, blood oxygenation, skin temperature and activities in many ways. It can nudge me to exercise more, tell me how I recovered from exercise and alert me to how well or how badly I am sleeping.. I personally do like having these insights, but of course, some people will hate the idea of this.

The smartwatch and related sensor technologies have opened up some new possibilities. In this article, im going beyond the smartwatch of today and take a look at what additional sensor technologies might assist us with spinal cord injury rehabilitation in the near future. In particular, we take a look at two sensor areas that have grown in popularity with elite athletes - Muscle oxygen sensing and Lactate sensing. If you want to know why, then read on.

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A Closer Look at Muscle Fatigue in FES Cycling and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation

What we have found in many years of working with spinal cord injured persons using FES Cycling, is that some clients are impatient to see their legs working hard from day one. They are disappointed when their muscles seem to fatigue so quickly when they start training for the first time. To understand why this is the case, we need to look at how muscles behave when contracting with the aid of electrical stimulation. We should also understand how a spinal cord injury produces changes in a person's muscular, skeletal and neural structures.

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Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury:

Experiencing a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be life-altering and poses significant challenges in everyday life. However, with comprehensive rehabilitation and the right support, restoring some functionality, independence, and an enhanced quality of life is not just a dream, but a realistic goal.

This article shines a light on the journey of SCI rehabilitation, highlighting the array of specialised strategies and programs that are designed to cater to the unique needs of each. It discusses the limitations of state healthcare and alternative resources, such as private therapists and rehabilitation facilities, while also highlighting the importance of early personal injury legal advice in negligence cases. The piece underscores the impact of rehabilitation on physical and psychological well-being and advocates for a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

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How are spinal cord injuries classified?

A spinal cord injury can be a life-changing event that no one is ever prepared for. Medical science has learned a great deal about how to treat the short-term consequences of a spinal cord injury. In the longer term, the imperative is to recover whatever function can be recovered through focusing on rehabilitation. Assistive technology can help to compensate for function that cannot be recovered. By preventing complications and striving for health, individuals can expect to enjoy good quality and length of life.

The mindset, attitudes and beliefs of the injured person and those around them will have a great impact on their potential for recovery, but there are limits to how far ‘belief’ will take them. Just believing that something is possible is not enough to make it so. We live in an age when technology, therapy and medical science can help individuals recover more function or at least remain healthier than would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Whilst there is no cure yet for spinal cord injury, this no longer seems an impossible dream.

Every spinal cord-injured person faces a different challenge as they essentially have injuries with somewhat different characteristics. To deal with this, medical science has sought to find a way to classify spinal cord injuries in a way that helps to guide treatment, and to some extent, define the expectations for recovery. This article examines how spinal cord injuries are classified.

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Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation: A New Hope for Spinal Injuries

Welcome to our latest exploration in the captivating realm of neurorehabilitation. Today, we venture into the innovative field of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) - a groundbreaking approach that has been making waves in recent years. Like Functional Electrical Stimulation, Neurofeedback and biofeedback, tSCS is within the general category of applications being referred to as neuromodulation.

Essentially, tSCS is a non-invasive method that involves sending small electrical currents transcutaneously to stimulate the spinal cord. Research has been underway to utilise tSCS in rehabilitating individuals with spinal cord injuries, opening new doors to hope and recovery.

By the end of this blog post, we aim to enlighten you about the science behind tSCS, and the potential it holds for improving the quality of life in spinal cord injury survivors

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