Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2019; 14(03): 634-640
DOI: 10.4103/ajns.AJNS_86_17
Review Article

Home-based rehabilitation programs: Promising field to maximize function of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury

Mojtaba Rezaei
1   Students' Scientific Research Center
2   Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
,
Amirsina Sharifi
1   Students' Scientific Research Center
2   Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
,
Alexander Vaccaro
3   Department of Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, The Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, PA
,
Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
2   Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
  Permissions and Reprints

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) has profound effects on the patient's health condition and function. However current treatment strategies fail in terms of cure. Thus, rehabilitative management has become the main gadget to promote patients' residual function. The most challenging aspect of rehabilitation is high costs of inpatient rehabilitation programs and poor continuity of care while patients are transferred to home. In this regard, numerous home based rehabilitation programs have been introduced. Objectives: This review is an attempt to better introduce and classify different aspects of home care programs for patients with TSCI all around the world. Methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar database. Studies that addressed rehabilitative programs for patients with TSCI in their home or home-like facilities were reviewed. Reference lists from retrieved articles were also reviewed. Results: Home based rehabilitation can be categorized in five different but naturally relevant fields: home aids/modification, home nursing and family help, social support, home based primary care (multidisciplinary physician groups), and novel models/methods (e.g. “transitional rehabilitation” or telemedicine). Conclusion: Since most investigators in TSCI home based rehabilitation have only introduced their findings, there are no comparative studies available. Thus future studies should be dedicated to clinical trials evaluating clinical efficacy of different strategies. A comprehensive integrated strategy with consideration to financial and other limitations should be applied to each specific area.

Key-words:

Home care - rehabilitation - spinal cord injuries

Financial support and sponsorship

This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.




Publication History

Article published online:
09 September 2022

© 2019. Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Rahimi-Movaghar V, Sayyah MK, Akbari H, Khorramirouz R, Rasouli MR, Moradi-Lakeh M, et al. Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in developing countries: A systematic review. Neuroepidemiology 2013;41:65-85.
  • 2 Johnson RL, Brooks CA, Whiteneck GG. Cost of traumatic spinal cord injury in a population-based registry. Spinal Cord 1996;34:470-80.
  • 3 Munce SE, Wodchis WP, Guilcher SJ, Couris CM, Verrier M, Fung K, et al. Direct costs of adult traumatic spinal cord injury in ontario. Spinal Cord 2013;51:64-9.
  • 4 Rahimi-Movaghar V, Moradi-Lakeh M, Rasouli MR, Vaccaro AR. Burden of spinal cord injury in Tehran, Iran. Spinal Cord 2010;48:492-7.
  • 5 van Langeveld SA, Post MW, van Asbeck FW, Gregory M, Halvorsen A, Rijken H, et al. Comparing content of therapy for people with a spinal cord injury in postacute inpatient rehabilitation in Australia, Norway, and the Netherlands. Phys Ther 2011;91:210-24.
  • 6 Yoshida KK. Institutional impact on self concept among persons with spinal cord injury. Int J Rehabil Res 1994;17:95-107.
  • 7 Brown DJ, Judd FK, Ungar GH. Continuing care of the spinal cord injured. Paraplegia 1987;25:296-300.
  • 8 Kreuter M. Spinal cord injury and partner relationships. Spinal Cord 2000;38:2-6.
  • 9 Rigby P, Ryan S, Joos S, Cooper B, Jutai JW, Steggles I, et al. Impact of electronic aids to daily living on the lives of persons with cervical spinal cord injuries. Assist Technol 2005;17:89-97.
  • 10 Welage N, Liu KP. Review of a home and community integration programme for people with spinal cord injuries in Hong Kong and its relevance to Sri Lanka. Hong Kong J Occup Ther 2008;18:34-9.
  • 11 Hughes R. The management of patients with spinal cord injury by a hospital-based home care programme. Paraplegia 1975;12:256-50.
  • 12 Kendall MB, Ungerer G, Dorsett P. Bridging the gap: Transitional rehabilitation services for people with spinal cord injury. Disabil Rehabil 2003;25:1008-15.
  • 13 Whiteneck G, Meade MA, Dijkers M, Tate DG, Bushnik T, Forchheimer MB, et al. Environmental factors and their role in participation and life satisfaction after spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1793-803.
  • 14 Seplowitz C. Technology and occupational therapy in the rehabilitation of the bedridden quadriplegic. Am J Occup Ther 1984;38:743-7.
  • 15 Biering-Sørensen T, Hansen RB, Biering-Sørensen F. Home aids and personal assistance 10-45 years after spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2009;47:405-12.
  • 16 Stiens SA, Fawber HL, Yuhas SA. The person with a spinal cord injury: An evolving prototype for life care planning. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2013;24:419-44.
  • 17 Cruise CM, Lee MH. Delivery of rehabilitation services to people aging with a disability. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2005;16:267-84.
  • 18 Nelson AL, Kelley B. Patient and family workshops: A new teaching approach for spinal cord injury. Rehabil Nurs 1983;8:13-6.
  • 19 Kinnersly D, Grundy D, Russell J. ABC of spinal cord injury. Transfer of care from hospital to community. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986;292:607-9.
  • 20 Hall KM, Knudsen ST, Wright J, Charlifue SW, Graves DE, Werner P, et al. Follow-up study of individuals with high tetraplegia (C1-C4) 14 to 24 years postinjury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1999;80:1507-13.
  • 21 Harvey C, Wilson SE, Greene CG, Berkowitz M, Stripling TE. New estimates of the direct costs of traumatic spinal cord injuries: Results of a nationwide survey. Paraplegia 1992;30:834-50.
  • 22 Weitzenkamp DA, Whiteneck GG, Lammertse DP. Predictors of personal care assistance for people with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:1399-405.
  • 23 Williams R, Murray A. Prevalence of depression after spinal cord injury: A meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2015;96:133-40.
  • 24 Beedie A, Kennedy P. Quality of social support predicts hopelessness and depression post spinal cord injury. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2002;9:227-34.
  • 25 Elliott TR, Herrick SM, Witty TE, Godshall F, Spruell M. Social support and depression following spinal cord injury. Rehabil Psychol 1992;37:37-48.
  • 26 Kishi Y, Robinson RG, Forrester AW. Prospective longitudinal study of depression following spinal cord injury. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1994;6:237-44.
  • 27 Michael M, Roth K. Against all odds: A qualitative study of rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injury in Afghanistan. Spinal Cord 2012;50:864-8.
  • 28 Barclay L, McDonald R, Lentin P. Social and community participation following spinal cord injury: A critical review. Int J Rehabil Res 2015;38:1-9.
  • 29 Dijkers M. Quality of life after spinal cord injury: A meta analysis of the effects of disablement components. Spinal Cord 1997;35:829-40.
  • 30 Abeyta N, Freeman ES, Primack D, Hammond FM, Dragon C, Harmon A, et al. SCIRehab project series: The social work/case management taxonomy. J Spinal Cord Med 2009;32:336-42.
  • 31 Westgren N, Levi R. Quality of life and traumatic spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998;79:1433-9.
  • 32 Ottomanelli L, Lind L. Review of critical factors related to employment after spinal cord injury: Implications for research and vocational services. J Spinal Cord Med 2009;32:503-31.
  • 33 Sabata D, Bruce C, Sanford J. Preparing home health clients for work opportunities with workplace accommodation. Home Healthc Manag Pract 2006;19:12-8.
  • 34 Engstrand JL, Rn MA. The Operation of a hospital based specialty home health team: Activities and associated costs. Rehabil Nurs 2000;25:70-5.
  • 35 Fronek P, Booth S, Kendall M, Miller D, Geraghty T. The effectiveness of a sexuality training program for the interdisciplinary spinal cord injury rehabilitation team. Sex Disabil 2005;23:51-63.
  • 36 Fronek P, Kendall M, Booth S, Eugarde E, Geraghty T. A longitudinal study of sexuality training for the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. Sex Disabil 2011;29:87-100.
  • 37 Wallace MA, Kendall MB. Transitional rehabilitation goals for people with spinal cord injury: Looking beyond the hospital walls. Disabil Rehabil 2014;36:642-50.
  • 38 Kirshblum SC, Priebe MM, Ho CH, Scelza WM, Chiodo AE, Wuermser LA, et al. Spinal cord injury medicine 3. Rehabilitation phase after acute spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2007;88:S62-70.
  • 39 Petrofsky JS. The use of electromyogram biofeedback to reduce trendelenburg gait. Eur J Appl Physiol 2001;85:491-5.
  • 40 Nightingale EJ, Raymond J, Middleton JW, Crosbie J, Davis GM. Benefits of FES gait in a spinal cord injured population. Spinal Cord 2007;45:646-57.
  • 41 Dolbow DR, Gorgey AS, Ketchum JM, Moore JR, Hackett LA, Gater DR, et al. Exercise adherence during home-based functional electrical stimulation cycling by individuals with spinal cord injury. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2012;91:922-30.
  • 42 Taylor PN, Ewins DJ, Fox B, Grundy D, Swain ID. Limb blood flow, cardiac output and quadriceps muscle bulk following spinal cord injury and the effect of training for the odstock functional electrical stimulation standing system. Paraplegia 1993;31:303-10.
  • 43 Johnston TE, Smith BT, Oladeji O, Betz RR, Lauer RT. Outcomes of a home cycling program using functional electrical stimulation or passive motion for children with spinal cord injury: A case series. J Spinal Cord Med 2008;31:215-21.
  • 44 Galea M, Tumminia J, Garback LM. Telerehabilitation in spinal cord injury persons: A novel approach. Telemed J E Health 2006;12:160-2.
  • 45 Kowalczewski J, Chong SL, Galea M, Prochazka A. In-home tele-rehabilitation improves tetraplegic hand function. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2011;25:412-22.
  • 46 Phillips VL, Vesmarovich S, Hauber R, Wiggers E, Egner A. Telehealth: Reaching out to newly injured spinal cord patients. Public Health Rep 2001;116 Suppl 1:94-102.
  • 47 Van Straaten MG, Cloud BA, Morrow MM, Ludewig PM, Zhao KD. Effectiveness of home exercise on pain, function, and strength of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: A high-dose shoulder program with telerehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014;95:1810-700.
  • 48 Woo C, Guihan M, Frick C, Gill CM, Ho CH. What's happening now! Telehealth management of spinal cord injury/disorders. J Spinal Cord Med 2011;34:322-31.
  • 49 van Hedel HJ. Improvement in function after spinal cord injury: The black-box entitled rehabilitation. Swiss Med Wkly 2012;142:w13673.