Complement activity was studied in patients with spinal cord transection. In some sera acute phase reactants: haptoglobin, C-reactive proteins, ceruloplasmin, as well as fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products, and immune complexes were monitored. Complement and acute phase reactants are increased in a majority of patients. Continuing inflammation and release of inflammatory mediators could be responsible for poor healing that commonly occurs in spinal cord injury. Urinary tract and other infections are associated with some but not all of the protein abnormalities. These proinflammatory proteins may contribute to the lack of healing of spinal transection.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1991

Physicians with disabilities.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1989

Kung-Fu: synthesis of wheelchair sport and self-protection.

As persons with disabilities enter the mainstream of society, and as the incidence of violent crime in society rises, disabled persons become victims of violent crime more frequently. It is vital for citizens with significant physical limitations to take precautionary steps for their own safety. Martial arts offer time-honored methods of self-protection for members of society who are physically disadvantaged. The case history of a young man with paraplegia is used to illustrate the potential of Kung-Fu as a sport and as a method of training for self-protection and survival.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

The patient and the professional: partners in sickness and in health.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Persons with Disabilities↗

PubMed1988

Scuba diving: taking the wheelchair out of wheelchair sports.

In the past, physicians prohibited patients with neuromuscular disease or disability from participating in scuba diving. This report highlights the opportunities that self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) affords to physically handicapped individuals, to move without assistive devices in a gravity-free environment. The experience of a person with T10 paraplegia is used to illustrate the applicability of a new system of evaluation, training, and certification for scuba diving to patients with a wide variety of disabilities, such as paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputation, cerebral palsy, and poliomyelitis. This review also discusses equipment needs, potential risks, and safety precautions. Physicians are encouraged to support those handicapped individuals who choose to explore the submerged two thirds of our planet for its recreational as well as its potential vocational opportunities.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Colonization of patients with spinal cord injury with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae at different institutions.

Colonization of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied in patients with spinal cord injury at two institutions in Los Angeles County. The method of care of patients was similar at both institutions. A high prevalence of perineal colonization with P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae and similar serotypes of Pseudomonas were seen at both institutions. This colonization probably reflects the type of bladder management in patients with spinal cord injury. It would be of interest to examine other facilities to determine if colonization is influenced by techniques or local factors.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Wheelchair mountaineering.

Survival training in the wilderness has proven effective with able-bodied populations in building self-esteem, self-assertion, sense of competence, and leadership. Wheelchair sports has been shown to be an important modality for patients with spinal cord injury. This report discusses a paraplegic man who succeeded, together with two other wheelchair-bound persons, in climbing an 8751-foot mountain. The patient's reactions to this achievement support the theory that personal-mastery accomplishments build the individual's sense of self-efficacy. Wheelchair mountaineering is suggested as a potential valuable tool in the long-term physical and emotional rehabilitation of selected individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Psychosocial aspects of death and dying in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

An exploratory survey of need and availability of life expectancy information and counseling was conducted among 32 patients who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 75 parents, and 43 professional health care workers in the muscular dystrophy clinics of the greater Los Angeles area. Regardless of their ages, which ranged from 12 years to 21, the majority of the patients, as well as the majority of the parents, rated life expectancy information and counseling as an important, but relatively unmet, need. Professionals perceived these services as more available than did the patients and their parents. Implications for intervention include restructuring psychosocial services for the entire family and providing a network of liaison services to assist the family as the disease progresses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Rehabilitation aspects of human sexuality.

The PLISSIT model is a comprehensive program that combines educational strategies with behavioral intervention to integrate human sexuality into the initial rehabilitation of spinal cord-injured persons. Sexuality is treated as a health care issue as important as bowel and bladder care, skin care, psychosocial issues, mobility, self-care and vocational concerns. Patients admitted to the Spinal Cord Injury Program are surrounded by a supportive milieu and an interdisciplinary staff who comfortably incorporate sexuality into discussions about catheter care, positioning, communication styles, assistive devices and so forth. Patients are exposed to a behavioral training program that makes available didactic lectures, group and individual sessions, bibliotherapy, films and opportunities for directed overnight sexual exploration within the hospital. We advocate that sex therapy be integrated into comprehensive rehabilitation programs along with physical therapy occupational therapy, recreation therapy and psychotherapy as an integral and effective form of functional restoration for patients with major physical disabilities.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Wheelchair racing: an important modality in acute rehabilitation after paraplegia.

Sports rehabilitation has been proven effective with patients having spinal cord injury. This case discusses a man with T12/LI paraplegia who had acute rehabilitation augmented by competitive long distance wheelchair racing. Stress testing was used to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness and to develop parameters whereby maximally efficient training could occur. Wheelchair modifications for racing were necessary. Competitive wheelchair racing was found valuable for this patient's physical, emotional and social rehabilitation. Patient involvement in racing has continued since discharge and the Boston Marathon was completed by wheelchair less than 1 year after onset of spinal cord injury.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Wheelchair sports medicine.

Wheelchair sports medicine involves the assessment of recreational and competitive sport capacities of physically disabled individuals, medical classification to allow fair competition among athletes with various types and degrees of disability, the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of athletic injuries, and research into the biomechanics and physiology of wheelchair athletics. Involvement in wheelchair sports medicine activities increases professional awareness and provides a valuable referral source for organized sports activities.

Adult↗