What Is Meant by Spinal Cord?
The spinal cord is a cylindrical structure within the spine that extends from the brainstem (lower part of the brain) to the lower back. The spinal cord carries nerve bundles and cells that transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. It is a delicate structure and an important part of the nervous system.
What Is Meant by Spinal Cord Injury?
Meninges are a layer of tissue, and a column of vertebrae which are spinal bones, surround the spinal cord and play a role in the prevention and protection of the spinal cord. The spinal cord transmits signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Usually, spinal cord injury is caused due to sudden traumatic blows to the vertebrae. This results in a fractured bone, damaging the spinal cord and nerve cells. In very rare and severe cases, the injury can result in the splitting of the spinal cord.
There Are Two Types of Spinal Cord Injury
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Complete:
In the case of complete spinal cord injury results in loss of function called complete paralysis below the level of injury. It usually affects both sides of the body. Complete paralysis can affect all four limbs or the lower limbs.
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Incomplete:
In incomplete spinal cord injury, some functions persist in body parts where the brain and body communicate in these pathways.
What Are the Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury is usually caused due to
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Motorcycle accidents.
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Falls.
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Injury due to gunshots.
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Sports injury.
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Complications caused due to surgery.
What Is Meant by Neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is also called neural plasticity or brain plasticity. This is meant by structural and functional alterations that the brain can adapt. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to adapt and alter its activity in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli. Neuroplasticity help in recovering and relearning the functions impacted by the spinal cord injury.
What Are the Benefits of Neuroplasticity?
There are various benefits of neuroplasticity. These are
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It allows the brain to learn new things.
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It helps to enhance the present cognitive capability.
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It plays a significant role in recovery from strokes and brain trauma or injury.
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It strengthens the area which has lost functions or is the decline of activity.
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It helps to enhance brain fitness.
Can Anyone Recover From Spinal Cord Injury With the Help of Neuroplasticity?
The spinal cord acts as an essential communication link between the brain and the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is injured or damaged, communication is disturbed, which results in motor and sensory disruption. Spared neural pathways in case of incomplete spinal cord injury are very significant as the damaged neural pathways and the nerve cells are incapable of recovery or regeneration. Only the undamaged, spared neural pathways in the spinal cord can use neuroplasticity and make changes.
So only those with incomplete spinal cord injury and spared neural pathways can recover. In contrast, those affected by complete spinal cord injury undergo treatment which usually focuses on learning alternative functional techniques and prevents further complications from evolving.
How Is Neuroplasticity Introduced Post-spinal Cord Injury?
Neuroplasticity helps in recovery by allowing the brain and spinal cord to recover functions and activities affected by the brain. The spared neural pathways help to recover and reassign the affected functions. The affected individuals should regularly practice weakened movements and activities to stimulate the spinal cord. Three factors are essential for stimulating neuroplasticity a-post spinal cord injury; these are
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Specificity:
Specific training is very important for stimulating neuroplasticity post spinal cord injury, as each movement or activity is with specific neural pathways. Each time a movement or activity is practiced enhances the demand for that function.
For example, if people want to recover from walking, they should regularly practice walking. Depending on the severity of the injury, this action can be split into various small steps like
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Leg muscle strengthening.
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Learning to stand with strength.
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Altering the weight of the body.
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Proper balance.
Practicing these methods individually will help to recover walking. Being very specific in activities will increase the demand for that particular function and rewire itself. Specific, accurate, and good movements are essential as an adaption of poor movements is avoided.
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Repetition:
It is a significant factor in the spinal cord injury recovery process. After spinal cord injury, repetition is essential as repeating the same activity repeatedly; the person teaches the brain, spinal cord, and muscles to work and perform an activity in sync.
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Intensity:
The intensity of the training plays a significant role in recovery. Intensity includes resistance, speed, repetition, effort, and time in the recovery process.
Do the Levels of Neuroplasticity Alter Through the Recovery Process?
Immediately post spinal cord injury, the CNS (central nervous system) will experience enhanced neuroplasticity levels for many months, during which the spinal cord stabilizes. This is the reason for the recovery by the individuals in the initial years post spinal cord injury. The doctors recommend rehabilitation immediately as the affected individuals can make use of the increased level of neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity will never become nil, but it may slowly return to the average level where the healthy parts of the spinal cord can always adapt to new changes.
Does Brain Plasticity Have Limitations?
The brain is not infinitely flexible or malleable. Some areas of the brain are responsible for specific activities. Damage to such key areas in the brain can cause a shortage in these areas, where recovery may be possible. Still, other unaffected brain areas cannot wholly recover or take over the functions of these damaged areas.
What Are the Issues With Brain Plasticity?
Brain plasticity is not always a positive sign of improvement. In some cases, harmful activities like substance use, disease, or trauma can negatively influence the brain. In some cases, lead poisoning can also act as a negative impact on the brain’s plasticity.
Conclusion:
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain and spinal cord to rewire and recover and make neurological adaptations. It helps in the recovery of activities that have been affected due to spinal cord injury. The activity cannot be recovered when a complete injury occurs, but alternative ways can be chosen. In case of incomplete injury, spared undamaged neural pathways help in the recovery of activities caused due to spinal cord injury.
