NEW research on spinal injuries has found that rehabilitation should include the mind as well as the body.
Rates of recovery could potentially be increased if training in spatial awareness is given, according to the study led by Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh.
The team discovered that spinal injuries can affect an individual’s perception of the space before them and their reach – even if their upper body is unaffected by their injury.
This distortion can affect a “multitude of everyday tasks ranging from lifting a cup of tea and eating, to daily self-care,” study leader and assistant professor of psychology at Heriot-Watt, Dr Anna Sedda, explained.
“At present, approximately 25% of those with spinal cord lesions who have retained sensory function fail to regain the use of their lower limbs and we don’t yet know why this is,” she said.
“By delivering mind rehabilitation, in partnership with physical rehabilitation, we believe we could improve the outcomes for these specific individuals, potentially allowing them to regain movement in their lower limbs.”
The research team, which included experts based in Switzerland, Italy, and the UK, say their results could help charities, the NHS and other organisations supporting people living with paraplegia, and give insights into how their houses should be adapted.
Sedda said: “By comparing the results of individuals with paraplegia and individuals of the same age who have no spinal cord injury in computerised tasks, we found that patients with paraplegia do not overestimate the space they can reach with their hands, as one would normally do given our ability to push a bit further using our torso.
“They also show more variability in spatial judgements which are not helped by having the target objects moved nearer to them.
“The findings suggest that individuals with paraplegia do not make use of an object’s properties that are related to the subsequent action, and that this difference in perception is related to the everyday experience of using their body differently after the injury.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here