Power Standing Wheelchair XO-505 Series

SCI Model Systems

Presently, there are 14 systems and 5 Form II centers sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education.

The Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Slide Show
The Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Slides (PDF version)
MSKTC SCIMS Flyer
Model System Knowledge Translation Center Website

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Finding the Perfect Wheelchair to FIT YOU is very important. That is why we have launched the new ERGO FIT™ Campaign based on proper Wheelchair Ergonomics, comparing and contrasting both your body’s needs, your Wheelchair Dimensions, and also balancing the environment in which you will be enjoying your wheelchair.

Whether it is outdoors expeditions and ensuring that going up a ramp with the least amount of resistance, or being as comfortable as possible due to prolonged usage, our ERGO FIT™ methodology provides a countless amount of options and accessories, or models with specific variations designed to maximize your mobility and comfort.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury ?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is generally described as damage or trauma to the spinal cord that has resulted in lost and/or impaired function resulting in reduced mobility and/or feeling.

Common causes of damage to the spinal cord are trauma (car/motorcycle accident, gunshot, falls, sports injuries, etc.), or disease (Transverse Myelitis, Polio, Spina Bifida, Friedreich’s Ataxia, spinal cord tumor, spinal stenosis, etc.). This damage to the spinal cord is known as a lesion, and the paralysis is known as quadriplegia if the injury is in the cervical (neck) region, or as paraplegia if the injury is in the thoracic, lumbar or sacral region.

The spinal cord injury level is usually referred to alpha numerically, relating to the affected segment in the spinal cord, ie, C7, T10, L3 etc.

Below the conus medullaris (L1-L2), the spinal canal contains a mass of nerves referred to as the cauda equina or “horse-tail”. These spinal  nerves divide off the lower end of the spinal cord and contain the nerve roots from L1-5 and S1-5. Injury to these nerve roots are referred to as cauda equina syndrome.

It is possible for someone to suffer a broken neck,or a broken back without becoming paralysed. This occurs when there is a fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae, but the spinal cord has not been damaged.

Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

There are typically two types of lesions associated with a spinal cord injury, these are known as a complete spinal cord injury and an incomplete spinal cord injury. A complete type of injury means the person is completely paralysed below their injury. An incomplete injury, means only part of the spinal cord is damaged. A person with an incomplete injury may have sensation below their lesion but no movement, or visa versa. There are many types in incomplete spinal cord injuries, and no two are the same.

Such injuries are known as Brown Sequard Syndrome, Central Cord Syndrome,Anterior Cord Syndrome and Posterior Cord Syndrome.

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation for individuals with a spinal cord injury combines physical therapies with skill-building activities. These activities will usually take place at a specialist center such as a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center or spinal injury center. A rehabilitation team will usually oversee activities and include a doctor specialising in spinal injuries, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, sports educators, rehabilitation nurses, rehabilitation psychologists, vocational counselors and nutritionists.

Generally, a paraplegic will be in hospital for around 5 months, where as a quadriplegic can be in hospital for around 6 – 8 months. Both paraplegics and quadriplegics should have some kind of rehabilitation and physiotherapy before they are discharged from hospital, to help maximise their potential, or help them get used to life in a wheelchair, and to help teach techniques which make everyday life easier.

Disabled sports, and wheelchair based sports can be an excellent way to build stamina, and help in rehabilitation by giving confidence and better social skills. The ultimate reward for many disabled sportsmen and women, is to win at the paralympic games, which will be coming to London in 2012.

Spinal Cord Injury Cure and Treatment

A cure for long term paralysis is still some years in the future, but clinical trials are taking place with olfactory ensheathing glial (OEG) cells and embryonic stem cell based therapy.

Quadraplegic, Tetraplegic, Paraplegic and it’s Definition

Quadraplegic is derived from two separate words from two different languages, Latin and Greek. The word “Quadra”, meaning “four” which is derived from Latin, relates to the number of limbs. “Plegic”, is derived from the Greek word “Plegia”, meaning paralysis.

Put the two together, and you have “Quadraplegia”.

“Tetra” is derived from the Greek word for “Four”. “Para” is derived from the Greek word for “two” Hence: Tetraplegic and Paraplegic.

In Europe, the term for 4 limb paralysis has always been tetraplegia. The Europeans would never dream of combining a Latin and Greek root in one word.

In 1991, when the American Spinal Cord Injury Classification system was being revised, the definition of names was discussed. The British are more aware of Greek versus Latin names. Since Plegia is a Greek word and quadri is Latin, the term quadriplegia mixes language sources. Upon review of the literature, it was recommended that the term tetraplegia be used by the American Spinal Cord Association so that there are not two different words in English referring to the same thing.