mat exercises for incomplete sci patients to improve bipedal ambulation

[maryannalyn]

hi there everyone. Most of my patients in the hospital have incomplete spinal cord injuries. It has been our practice to let patients do mat exercises such as quadruped, crawling forward, backward, heel sitting to kneeling , kneeling , kneel-walking, etc while incorporating the stages of motor control to improve muscle strength. May i just know if you have other techniques or ideas that i may do inside or outside the mat to hasten the recovery of my patients. Thanks:lightbulb:teeth:

[EricM]

maryannalyn,
This is an area not often discussed on this site. I have never worked with this population myself, however I'm hopeful some regular readers or contributors here will have some ideas for you. It might help if you narrowed your question down a little. Are there any specific impairments or functional problems you have in mind?

[maryannalyn]

Currently im working on a female patient diagnosed with Potts disease T8-T10 level 3 months post-injury. She is functional as to bed mobilities and transfers. Both her lower extremities has 0/5 MMT and are hypotonic. We already started mat exercises such as balance activities in quadruped but i have to assume her to that position. Im hoping that i can stimulate proximal hip mucles so she can do bridging or crawling activities at least to prepare her for bipedal ambulation even with bilateral KAFOs.