PERLS207 Lecture Notes - Autonomic Dysreflexia, Lumbar Vertebrae, Cervical Vertebrae

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies
• Course: PERLS207
• Professor: Joanna Clair

Document Summary

Spinal chord injury: any event, disease, or condition which causes either complete or incomplete paralysis of left/and or right upper and/or lower extremities. ~900 new injuries/year (lower in canada than usa) Spinal chord: 7 cervical vertebrae, 8 nerves, 12 thoracic vertebrae & nerves, 5 lumbar vertebrae & nerves, 5 sacral vertebrae & nerves, c4 critical b/c it innervates diaphragm. Tetraplegia: cervical lesion, affects sensory/motor function in all limbs, trunk, bladder, bowel, sex organs, possible respiratory dysfunction. Paraplegia: thoracic or lumbar lesion, trunk, lower limbs, bladder, bowel, sex organs. Hemiplegia: lesion affecting one side of spinal chord. Pressure sores, spasticity+contractures, autonomic dysreflexia, muscle atrophy, obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, temp. control, heat/circulatory regulation, urination/defecation, sexual function. Pressure sores: start at skin (friction, moisture, pressure) move inwards or start deep (pressure) move out: prevention health, skin inspections. Spasticity: impaired reflex activity, exaggerated below level of injury, evoked by stretch, pain, infection.