Basic tips to prevent spinal cord injuries

Studies have shown that there are about 500,000 people in the United States, alone, are suffering from Spinal Cord Injuries or SCI. People who are usually involved are those within the age bracket of 16 to 30 years old. Experts say that in this age bracket, 82 percent who are greatly affected are men and the rest, women.

Spinal cord injuries refer to the inability of the nerves in the spine to feel. Some say that this is somehow similar to back injuries. The only difference is that unlike in back injuries where they might be broken bones and pitched nerves, in spinal cord injuries, everything remains intact, only that, the function of mobility is greatly affected.

If spinal cord injuries are not diagnosed and treated the earliest possible time, there's a great chance for it to develop into "transverse myelitis". This is among the rarest neurological disorders, which is usually caused by an inflamed spinal cord. In the US alone, 400 to 1,500 people are affected annually. Experts say that this disorder should be carefully monitored and treated otherwise, it can paralyze a person for life.

Experts say that in any condition or illness, prevention is better than cure. To be able to avoid this, the first thing that one needs to know is the familiarizing him or herself about the leading causes of SCI and how to prevent them. Studies show that the leading causes of spinal cord injuries are vehicular accidents, heavy falls, and sports related activities. Here are some of the tips in each respective cause that can help you prevent acquiring the disorder:

1. Vehicular accidents

Studies show that auto or car accidents is the major cause of SCI and affects people especially male, below 65 years of age. To avoid car accidents, drivers should always:

- wear a safety belt as well as all the passengers inside to minimize the impact of pressure in case there's an accident;

- adhere to child safety practices when there are infants or young children in the car;

- have children aged 12 and below to be in the back seat with their seatbelts fastened properly;

- follow road rules and obey the appropriate speed limits all the time;

- be alert and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

2. Falling

Falls as a result from motorcycle racing, horse riding, etc., are some of the main causes of spinal cord injuries. Appropriate safety attire and helmets must be worn but most of all, precautionary measures should be taken to avoid a fall as it could be fatal.

For people who are 65 years old and above, women in general, falling is the number one cause of spinal cord injuries. To avoid falling at home or in the office, make sure that the:

- walkways are clear and free of any debris such as electrical cords that can cause tripping;

- floors are clean especially of greases, water spills and other liquids;

- rugs are non-skid to lessen the possibilities of slipping;

- handrails are properly installed in stairways as well as in areas that may be wet such as in bathrooms;

- high traffic areas are well lighted.

Through the years, there have been so many developments and advances when it comes to diagnosis, treatments, and rehabilitation of people with SCI. These advances which include surgery, rehabilitation therapies, drug treatments, stem cells, nerve cell transplantation, and nerve regeneration, help SCI patients to be able to survive and manage all the pain and inconvenience brought by the condition. But, up until this time, no cure for SCI has been discovered.

People who have spinal cord injuries (SCI) need chiropractors. These experts would help them boost their musculoskeletal system and their nervous system as well as help manage the pain caused by the condition. Chiropractors provide spine alignment and other natural therapies can help the person's body to function well by normalizing the nerve flow and regulates the digestion, the heart rate, and the blood pressure.

WHO NEEDS THEM

Generally, all people who feel pain, especially in the spine or vertebrae area, need a chiropractor. This is because through a licensed chiropractor, one can feel relieve from pain, learn how to manage pain, and can reap health benefits through various chiropractic treatments and therapies.

Experts believe that a person's spine is one of the most vulnerable parts of the person's body as the gravity of stress and fatigue take toll in this and lead to back problems such as scoliosis. Problems in the spine may also lead other complications such as low immune function, headaches, allergies, asthma, and even menstrual disorders.

Strength training has become a popular choice of exercise in keeping the body fit and healthy because it is the fastest way in improving muscle as well as endurance and strength. Experts say that doing strength training exercises at least 3 times weekly for 20 minutes or so is most ideal. This may result to firm muscles especially if it is targeted for the back area.

Aside from improving the working capacity of the muscles, strength training can also help improve the body's coordination, balance, and blood circulation as well as the strength of the bones and the ligaments especially in the back area.

The most common stretching exercises to avoid spinal cord injuries include warm-ups that include flexibility and stretching exercises performed at least 8 minutes before any strength training exercise to keep the muscles supple, increase the joints' range of motion, heart rate and body temperature, and blood flow to muscles, enhance flexibility, and improve coordination.

MASSAGE

One of the ways to relieve pain caused by spinal cord injuries is massage. The pain will be very much reduced and if performed often enough, it will subsequently disappear.

The major treatment option offered by chiropractors is to treat subluxation more specifically spinal subluxations which is misalignments of the person's vertebra. When there is misalignment in this area, there will be nerve irritations. Experts believe that if there is too much or too little movement in the person's vertebra, he or she will develop subluxation. While others may be painless especially among kids, there are those who experience pain and aggravate their overall health.

Chiropractors usually work on subluxations at different areas of the person's spine. Since there are different parts, there are also varied problems depending on the area targeted. The most common subluxation type which chiropractors address is the "C2" or second cervical vertebra type that usually triggers dysfunction of the sinus and major headaches while the "T5" or fifth thoracic vertebra type usually involves a stomach complication.