Effectiveness of upper extremity strengthening programme for the people with incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury.

Abstract

Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a substantial global impact on people, families, economies, and healthcare systems. Damage to the spinal cord that causes a loss of function, such as feeling or movement, is known as a spinal cord injury (SCI). An incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a term used to describe partial spinal cord distraction at the cervical (neck) level that leaves all four limbs with varying degrees of motor and sensory function lost (tetraplegia). This study was done to ascertain the best course of action for reducing the condition's symptoms. Objectives: The study aims to examine the impact of repetitive upper extremity muscle strengthening training for the people with incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury on the strength of the following muscles: elbow flexor, elbow extensor, wrist flexor, and wrist extensor in patients with incomplete tetraplegic SCI. Methodology: It was a quasi-experimental study. A total of 15 samples were purposively chosen from the inpatient treatment programme of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka, Physiotherapy Department, and Spinal Cord Injury Unit. A structured questionnaire was applied to review the participants' sociodemographic data as well as other information. A pre-test was carried out prior to starting the treatment. After four weeks of treatment, the same process was implemented to take the post-test. For a total of 4 weeks, there were 5 treatment sessions per week for 4 weeks. Result: Among 15 participants, the average age was 24.07 years. Pre and post-test DASH score’s standard deviation was 8.96 and 9.81, mean 90.39 and 74.95, median 91.50 and 79.00, range 27.5 and 30.0. Where mean score of pre and post-test Oxford Muscle Grade score were 2.93 and 3.73. In statistical analysis through Wilcoxon Singed-Ranked test there were significant improvement for wheelchair propel in incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury patients. Conclusion: This study shows that the upper limb strengthening programme improve in incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury patients. Key Words: Spinal Cord Injury, Muscle Strengthening, Upper Limb.