What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is essential for sending messages between the brain and the rest of the body, including muscles, organs, and skin. A spinal cord injury happens when this pathway is damaged due to illness or injury. This disrupts communication, and can lead to partial or complete loss of movement and feeling. Depending on where and how severe the injury is, a person may experience different levels of paralysis, changes in sensation, and difficulties with daily activities, greatly affecting their mobility and quality of life.
Orthotic treatment
At our clinic, we offer specialised orthotic solutions to support individuals with spinal cord injuries throughout their rehabilitation journey and beyond.
Our orthotic interventions aim to improve stability, prevent contractures, and enhance mobility. Orthotics used to help treat Spinal Cord Injury patients may include:
- Spinal Braces: These devices stabilise the spine, promote healing, and maintain proper posture during the acute phase of recovery.
- Lower Limb Orthoses: We provide custom-fitted devices such as:
- Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) for ankle weakness and stablity
- Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFOs) for muscle weakness affecting the knee and ankle.
- Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (HKAFOs) for more extensive lower body paralysis
- Upper Limb Orthoses: these are often used to maintain the range in the joints and prevent muscles contracting.
Our experienced orthotists work closely with your rehabilitation team to assess your specific needs and design personalised orthotic solutions.
With proper orthotic support, many spinal cord injury patients experience improved independence, reduced pain, and enhanced participation in daily activities.
