For most people, when they hear the word “quadriplegic,” their mind goes straight to an image of Christopher Reeve in his wheelchair. Or when they hear “spinal cord injury,” they think the worst of it is that we can’t walk.But how a body is affected and can still function despite the main nerve being down is quite something. From lesser-known secondary effects to the body’s impressive resiliency, here are seven surprising facts about spinal cord injuries. Continue Reading »

Counter height, the width of the kitchen, and sink accessibility all matter when remodeling a kitchen for someone who uses a wheelchair.

In her great essay about designing a wheelchair accessible kitchen, Dr. Rosemary Rossetti calls the kitchen “the most important room of the house”. I agree. Can you imagine not being able to use your own kitchen? Fortunately, there are some great remodeling contractors, architects, and designers out there who are trained in Universal Design. If you are just getting started with the process of remodeling a kitchen to make it wheelchair accessible, this list could help you to get an overview of the components of a wheelchair accessible kitchen. Continue Reading »

This guide has been put together to offer assistance to those travelling on a cruise with a disability or if travelling with someone with special requirements.

Cruises offer a great way to get away for many disabled travellers, as modern cruise ships offer fantastic facilities onboard. Disabled access cabins are much easier to get around in if you have limited mobility. The layout of most modern ships are also much more accessible to all passengers and the well trained crew and medical staff are on hand to help where possible. Continue Reading »

Missy was one of eight students in a prayer group who were shot by a fellow student in the lobby of their Padukah, Kentucky high school. Her fortitude and faith keep her speaking on today’s urgent issues. Continue Reading »

This is a research paper written by Rebecca Johnston, Daniel Leonard’s sister. She recently graduated from a Physical Therapy degree program, and wrote her Capstone paper about Daniel’s stem cell therapy treatment in Panama.

Daniel is presented anonymously in the paper, but Rebecca and Daniel have given their permission for this paper to be shared. Daniel’s ASIA scores (pre and post treatment) are in the appendix of this paper. Continue Reading »

“Are you okay?” my student asked concerned.

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” I responded in a confused tone, but I knew why she asked.

“Oh, it’s just…because you’re sitting today,” she started to stutter as her voice got lower almost not claiming what she just said.

As I rolled my wheelchair to the front of the classroom under my desk I assured her, “Oh, yea, I brought my wheelchair today. Continue Reading »

People often ask me when or if there will ever be a cure for spinal cord injury. Although there are many differing opinions about this, I am confident there will be a cure in my lifetime. In the meantime, anyone with a spinal cord injury should have a long-term plan for their treatment and care.

The number of spinal cord injuries per year has remained fairly stable over the last two decades, with nearly 12,000 occurring each year mostly from sports injuries, car accidents and other forms of traumatic injury. Currently in the United States there are approximately 200,000 people are living with spinal cord injuries or spinal dysfunction. With today’s advanced medical treatments, more spinal cord injury patients survive the trauma compared to just a few decades ago. This positive shift in mortality rate underlines the great importance of initial acute treatment and follow up rehabilitation. Continue Reading »

A Big Opportunity – For Everyone

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) refers to an injury to the spinal cord that is caused by direct trauma or secondary damage to the surrounding bone, tissue, or blood vessels. Classification of the extent of the injury is based on neurological responses, touch and pinprick sensations tested in each dermatome (an area of the skin supplied by a single spinal nerve), and strength of ten key muscles on each side of the body, including the hip flexion (L2), shoulder shrug (C4), elbow flexion (C5), wrist extension (C6), and elbow extension (C7). The four categories of SCI classification and their respective percent of the market are: Complete Tetraplegia (16%), Incomplete Tetraplegia (41%), Complete Paraplegia (22%), and Incomplete Paraplegia (21%) Continue Reading »

My dad fell in church the other day. He said it happened as he was going down the steps. He felt a shooting pain in his back shortly before and there was nowhere to sit. As he walked down the step his leg gave out, he collapsed.  Other church members hurried over to catch him. He suffers from Sciatica and some arthritis. He turned 80 last July. Aging can bring about some of this. I think he’s becoming addicted to these cortisone shots. He’s had several and always seems to think that is the cure.  Once the medication wears off, the pain comes back. I was talking to him about the importance of exercise and moving around. I notice he doesn’t move around as much. Naturally, when we don’t move our body weakens.

I kept thinking, if it’s that hard for my dad to move without having paralysis. Imagine how much harder it is for the paralyzed? Well, I can imagine, because I have been. Continue Reading »

The Paralympic Games were the creation of one remarkable man.

It was on November 9, 1938, Kristallnacht in Germany, when Jewish property was destroyed wholesale and about 30,000 Jews arrested, beaten, murdered or dragged off to concentration camps, that Ludwig Guttmann, the medical director of the Jewish Hospital in Breslau, instructed his staff to admit without question anyone arriving that night. Continue Reading »