Spinal Cord Injury

Here is a quick review for me of what is affected at different levels of injury (everything below the level is affected as well, generally).

C1-3 - need a ventilator to breathe.
C4 - Diaphragm is in tact, cervical paraspinals are in tact thus more head control is present.
C5 - Use of biceps in tact.
C6 - Radial wrist extensors, pectoralis muscles are in tact, allowing for stronger horizontal adduction
C7-8 - Triceps, wrist flexion (C7), no hand intrinsics (that would be C8).
T6 and above leaves the possibility of autonomic dysreflexia.
T1-6 - Intercostals, hand intrinsics, long muscles of back, slight bit of abdominals in tact.
T7-12 - Abdominals in tact.
L1-S3 - Bowel and bladder problems can still be problematic.

I have ever so many finals left including one that covers the above mentioned material...

In other news there was a great article in The Boston Globe about how PT is emerging.

Lastly, the APTA SA BoD and Nom Com Orientation I went to the past weekend was a great success. I learned so much and was glad to be a part of the process. I have a lot more to say about the weekend but I am off to study some mo'. PEACE!