Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Our goal is to begin early intervention to optimize a patient's independence at home and in the community. We strive to improve physical function, mobility, and activities of daily living through the use of strategies, skills and adaptive technology. Education is provided throughout the rehabilitation process to patients and family members to maximize recovery and general health. Support will also be provided by psychologists and social workers to address any emotional, cognitive or adjustment needs.

Upstate Medical University is a large academic hospital that provides evidence-based care using the latest technology to facilitate your neurological recovery and independence after a spinal cord injury.  Our team of experts will work together to create a plan to get you to return to home, community, and work/school activities as soon as possible.   You will receive excellent medical care at one of our two Campuses (University Hospital and Community Hospital).  You may find yourself in need of services from our skilled therapy staff which include the following professionals:

• Occupational Therapists: Occupational Therapists (OT) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and treating your current physical, cognitive (thinking), visual, social, and emotional status as it relates to returning to independence with your daily activities, leisure activities, school, or work.
• Speech and Language Pathologists: Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and treating difficulties with feeding and swallowing, respiration, speech, language, and cognition (thinking).
• Physical Therapists: Physical Therapists (PT) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and treating difficulties with strength, balance, sensation, and coordination. A physical therapist will customize your therapy program based on your individual needs and goals.  This training typically includes practice with bed mobility, transfers, wheelchair skills, education on braces and cervical collars, and walking.  Our training utilizes the latest technology such as body weight support treadmill training to promote your neurological recovery. 

What can you expect from your stay?

• The above therapy providers can/may be consulted by your medical provider (MD, NP, PA) during your stay in the hospital.
• There are therapy providers from all three disciplines here 7 days a week to provide evaluation and treatment as needed.
• You may receive all of the above services or only require 1 or 2 services during your stay.
• Therapists are focused on evaluating and treating you during your stay, making patient-centered goals, and making appropriate discharge recommendations for you and your family.
• Therapists can also make recommendations regarding equipment needs for discharge home.

Upstate Medical University Hospital has provided expert acute inpatient rehabilitation for over 30 years. The 2 North Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Upstate University Hospital has 30 beds and admits Adult and Pediatric Rehabilitation patients.   Our patients receive specialized care from a highly skilled and dedicated team of rehabilitation professionals including nurses, therapists, case managers, and board-certified physicians.

The goal of the Rehabilitation Team is to help patients become as independent as possible.  We assist individuals with overcoming barriers presented by functional limitations in mobility, self-care, communication, swallowing, and cognition.

• • The rehabilitation team may include:
    • Occupational therapists
    • Physical therapists
    • Speech-language pathologists
    • Rehabilitation therapist
    • Recreational therapist
    • Board certified doctors
    • Case management
    • Rehabilitation psychologist
    • Social work
    • Registered Nurses/Nursing staff

What can you expect from your stay?

• • • A patient is admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit from the acute care setting.
    • Within 24 hours of admission to the inpatient rehabilitation unit, the patient will receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy evaluation
    • The patient will receive at least 3 hours of therapy a day for a minimum of 5 days a week
    • Patients may also receive therapy on the weekend
    • Patients are provided with 24-hour nursing care
    • Physicians are on call 24 hours a day
  • Preparing for your stay:
    • Patients can bring the following:
      • Loose-fitting, washable clothing
      • Comfortable walking shoes
      • Pajamas
      • If used: dentures, hearing aids with batteries, glasses
      • Cosmetics and toiletries you would like to use
      • Photographs of family, friends, and pets
    • Please leave valuables at home, including jewelry and other items of sentimental value
  • Family and Friends
    • We encourage family and patient caregivers to participate in therapy sessions and learn about your care
    • Therapy appointments may start as early as 7 am and may not end until 4 pm
    • Many patients need to rest in between appointments, so we ask that friends come after therapy ends at 4 pm
    • Children are welcome to visit but must be supervised by an adult visitor
    • Visiting hours end at 9 pm

• Our outpatient rehabilitation team has experience working with clients with spinal cord injuries to continue to expand their independence in the home and community while optimizing their neurological recovery.  We are dedicated to providing personalized comprehensive and collaborative care for every patient. We utilize best practices, evidence, goals, and the latest technology to guide your treatment.
• Treatments may include functional mobility training, casting/splinting, therapeutic exercise, modalities, aquatics, locomotor training using robotics or body weight support therapy, cognitive retraining,  ADL training, and initiating home and community exercise programs.
  • Our rehabilitation team includes
    • Occupational Therapist: Occupational Therapists (OT) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and remediating your current physical, cognitive (thinking), visual,  social,  and emotional status as it relates to returning to independence with your daily activities, leisure activities, school, or work.
    • Speech Language Pathologist: Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and remediating difficulties with feeding and swallowing, speech, language, and cognition (thinking).

• • • Physical Therapist: Physical Therapists (PT) are medical professionals specially trained in evaluating and treating difficulties with strength, balance, sensation, and coordination.  A physical therapist will customize your therapy program based on your individual needs and goals.  This training typically includes practice with bed mobility, transfers, wheelchair skills, and walking while utilizing the latest technology such as body weight support treadmill training, and electrical stimulation to promote your neurological recovery.  We also collaborate with vendors to complete trials of equipment such as wheelchairs, standing frames, bioness, walk-aide, and re-walk exoskeleton.   

• • • Rehabilitation Counselor: A rehabilitation counselor assists persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals in the most integrated setting possible through the application of the counseling process.
  • A physician’s referral is required for examination and treatment within this program.

• Preparing for your first visit
  • Wear comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear (closed-toed shoes)
  • The first visit is to complete an initial evaluation, including medical history, objective measures, and functional testing to establish an appropriate treatment plan and home exercise program
  • Bring any braces or splints you are currently using or have been given in the past
  • Bring current medication list, test results, and surgical history
  • A physician's referral is required for evaluation and treatment within this program.

Services are provided by an interdisciplinary team including occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, neuropsychologists, vocational therapists, and physicians.
Treatments in therapy may include:

• Activities of daily living and independent living skills
• Recommendations of Assistive or Adaptive Equipment
• Bed mobility and transfer training
• Ambulation training
• Balance and coordination training
• Strengthening and Range of Motion
• Splinting/orthotics
• Wheelchair Assessment
• Wheelchair skills training
• Bowel and bladder management
• Home modifications/setup
• Family Training
• Spinal Cord Injury Education
• Tone Management
• Vocational services—return to work and school
• Cognitive retraining
• Vision Testing and Retraining
• Speech and swallowing training
• Neuropsychology Testing

• Lokomat
• Armeo
• Functional E-stim
• Bioness H200 and L300
• RT300 Cycle
• Walkaide
• NeuroCom Balance Master

• Syracuse Spinal Cord Association
  
• United Spinal Association