The Spinal Unit works with people who have sustained a spinal cord injury. This may be the consequence of a traumatic incident like a motor vehicle accident or a non-traumatic cause like a spinal tumour. Damage to the spinal cord usually results in the loss of muscle power (paralysis) and sensation. Those who have been affected by a spinal cord injury, either complete or incomplete, are taught to be as independent as possible during the rehabilitation process.
Each individual admitted into our unit, as well as their family form part of the interdisciplinary team including the doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nursing staff, dietician, social worker and psychologist. Together we strive to create an optimal environment to achieve the best results possible and to be taught how to compensate for any permanent physical loss.
Therapy takes place in a large, well equipped gym. It will include individual sessions as well as group sessions where specific skill needs are identified and addressed e.g. mounting and descending a curb in a wheelchair, basketball, managing outdoor terrain or cooking groups. We organise outings to target specific skills going shopping, skills that one needs to be able to do to return back to your previous life-style.
We also perform home and work visits when possible to look at accessibility and make any suggestions to improve this. We offer an education programme that covers a wide variety of pertinent topics, carer training for those who will require on-going assistance, a computerised seating assessment (Pressure Mapping system) to ensure that the correct wheelchair and cushion are prescribed, an aquatherapy pool and gait re-education when appropriate.
An outpatient service is also available if needed.
