Effectiveness of Tailored Exercise Protocol on Functional Independence in Post Laminectomy Induced Paraparesis – A Case Study

Abstract

The compression and decompression junction are a potential site for spinal cord distortion. Cord compression could result from the changed cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics. Para paresis will occur due to direct trauma sustained during surgery or postoperative hematomas and there is 16% of secondary disease, because of non-traumatic injuries and 84% of spinal cord injury are due to trauma and 2 to 5 times the individuals will die prematurely due to spinal cord injury. Case report of a patient, having D8-L1 wedge compression fracture undergone surgical laminectomy, for which specific exercise protocol designed to improve muscle strength, activities of daily living and reduce clonus. post-operatively patient complained of weakness in bilateral lower limb, and he was dependent on others for his daily life activities, so our aim was to make the patient independent and he should be able to transfer from bed to wheelchair and reduce clonus. Tailored protocol was designed for patient’s functional independence by bed mobility, transfer skills, muscle strengthening by using different scales, and he was trained five sessions in a week for three months. After implementing the exercise program like strengthening exercises for bilateral upper limbs, bed mobility training, stretching of bilateral lower limb muscles for clonus and transfer skills using tailored protocol for twelve weeks there was improvement in all parameters. Keywords: Paraplegia, Functional independence, Tailored exercise