What’s New in Orthopaedic Rehabilitation – Spinal Cord Injury

Harish Hosalkar, MD, MBMS(Orth), FCPS(Orth), DNB(Orth)1, Jason Hsu, MD1, Nirav K. Pandya, MD1 and Mary Ann Keenan, MD1

The use of systemic Hypothermia for spinal cord injury has received much attention in the past year, in large part because of the substantial neurologic recovery after the use of moderate hypothermia in the case of a professional football player who had sustained an incomplete Cervical spinal cord injury19. Whether the neurologic recovery was spontaneous, was due to hypothermia, or was due to early surgical decompression is uncertain. The current theory is that decreased temperatures will minimize metabolic demands and Edema during periods of spinal cord Ischemia. Continue Reading »

U.S. Sen. Harkin- Statement Regarding the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D- IA) delivered the following remarks yesterday on the floor of the Senate urging the adoption of S. 1183, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.

The text of the speech is below.

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor with a heavy heart and a clear purpose. Last Thursday would have been the 56th birthday of a great actor, a devoted father and husband, Christopher Reeve. Many Americans got to know Christopher Reeve when he put on that blue and red uniform of Superman and acted in so many Superman roles. He was also on television and stage. So we always think of Christopher Reeve as the first Superman. Continue Reading »

Fashion will benefit charities

Two charities will share in proceeds from tickets they sell for Scottsdale Fashion Week VIP shows Nov. 6-9.

The Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona will sell “supertickets,” good for three VIP shows on designated days.

The spinal-cord association will sell tickets to VIP shows Nov. 8. The organization will sell tickets to the final three shows of the festival, including a show by famed designer Zang Toi. There are 500 tickets available per show, starting at $250. Continue Reading »

Sole use of impaired limb improves recovery in spinal cord injury

Animal study shows Physical Therapy works by increasing growth of nerve fibers and formation of brain cell connections

A new study finds that following minor spinal cord injury, rats that had to use impaired limbs showed full recovery due to increased growth of healthy nerve fibers and the formation of new nerve cell connections. Published in the September 17 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, these findings help explain how physical therapy advances recovery, and support the use of Rehabilitation therapies that specifically target impaired limbs in people with brain and spinal cord injuries.

“After brain and spinal cord injuries, exercise-based physical therapy is the primary rehabilitative strategy in use today,” said Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD, at Yale University School of Medicine, an expert unaffiliated with the study. Continue Reading »

Huge turnout nets $43,000 for Brooks

Mount Shasta, Calif. -Driving around Mount Shasta this week, you may notice a new feature on many cars. Stickers and magnets reading “The Corbster” and “Corben Brooks #54 – Stay Strong” have been plastered everywhere, a reminder to the community of one young man’s struggle to get back on his feet.

Friday’s Booster Club Tailgate Party raised over $40,000 for Corben Brooks, the 17 year-old Mount Shasta High School senior who was seriously injured during a football scrimmage in August. Continue Reading »

Govt must ensure disabled have social independence

More and more people with severe disabilities are seeking to take part in social activities while living independently at home. Yet not much progress has been made since the law to promote their independence went into effect in fiscal 2006.

Among such people is Akira Kinoshita, 21, who suffered a neck injury during a judo practice session when he was a high school student. Kinoshita started living in an apartment in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, with his mother in April. Paralyzed from the neck down, he relies on an artificial respirator. But he is studying hard to enter university while receiving nursing care from a home-visit helper as well as his mother. Continue Reading »

Briana Walker on Weekly ‘Holistic Living’ Talk Show August 26th, 2008

Tina Marie is excited to have Briana Walker, author of Dance Anyway on Her Weekly ‘Holistic Living’ Talk Show on the Voice America Network
Author of Dance Anyway, model, dancer and ambassador for Life Rolls On, Briana Walker will join Tina Marie on her Holistic Living radio show on the Voice America, online internet talk radio network, on August 26th, 2008.

Phoenix, AZ August 18th,2008 — Internet broadcasting pioneer, producing and syndicating online audio and video, today announced that the author of Dance Anyway , Briana Walker will share her inspiring story and message of hope on the Holistic Living with Tina Marie radio show on the Voice America online internet talk radio network, on August 26th, 2008. Continue Reading »

Homes for Our Troops to build house for paralyzed Marine

Marine Joshua Hoffman was paralyzed by a sniper’s bullet in Iraq in January 2007. At left is his mother, Reed City resident Hazel Hoffman, and fiancee, Heather Lovell pictured during a day out from a Virginia veterans hospital in 2007.

MIDDLEVILLE — Heather Lovell knows how her fiance, injured veteran Josh Hoffman, feels about moving to a home that’s to be built especially to meet his needs.

“He’s so excited. He doesn’t even have to say anything. You can see it in his face,” Lovell said. Continue Reading »

Up-to-minute techniques may let paraplegic walk

Utah woman works hard daily to escape from wheelchair

Four years ago, Maggie Anderson’s spine was crushed when the minivan she was riding in hit black ice, flipped and landed on her.

Anderson will forever regret not strapping on a seat belt that day in Idaho. But at 21, she’s found joy in life, good friends and even a chance of escaping her wheelchair. Continue Reading »

Canine Companions reaches out to disabled vets

OCEANSIDE —- A former Marine Corps reservist disabled by a spinal cord injury says many similarly injured troops he talks to are reluctant to apply for assistance dogs.

“They still have that warrior mentality,” said Lance Weir, volunteer coordinator for Canine Companions for Independence in Oceanside. “They’re still looking out for that person next to them. Very often they’ll say they don’t want to take a dog away from someone else.”

Weir is working to dispel that notion.

He will introduce war veterans to assistance dogs during the nonprofit group’s open house for current and former members of the military and their families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 9. The event takes place at the Canine Companions campus, 124 Rancho del Oro Drive. Continue Reading »