Spinal Cord Injury Program

For spinal cord patients, life can change in an instant.

Maybe it happened during an automobile accident, a diving mishap, a football game, a fall from a significant height. No matter what the cause, the end result can be devastating on many levels to both the patient and his or her family members.

To assist such patients and their family members, Sunnyview offers comprehensive in- and outpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) programs. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Sunnyview's SCI program combines physical, occupational and speech therapy, along with psychological counseling and social work consultations.

One of the unique features of Sunnyview's SCI program is that the hospital owns a functional electrical stimulation (FES) bicycle that is available to SCI patients. The bicycle enables patients to have an aerobic cardiovascular workout, thanks to stimulation electrodes places on the patient's body that simulate muscle expansion and contraction. Sunnyview is one of only a handful of hospitals in the country to offer this expensive-and extremely effective-piece of equipment to patients who can add a cardiovascular workout to enhance their health. Sunnyview's physical therapists are trained to teach SCI patients to use the equipment, which is housed in the hospital's Lifestyle Wellness Center.

Sunnyview also offers a parastep program, which uses a computer-assisted system to enable independent, unbraced standing and walking for appropriate candidates.

Sunnyview also offers driver training to SCI patients.

For further information about Sunnyview's SCI program, call 518-382-4516.

Related Links:
National Spinal Cord Association
American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers
United Spinal Association
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
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