PHOTOTHERAPY AND STECCO FASCIAL MANIPULATION AS A NOVEL FORM OF NEURO-REHABILITATION IN CERVICAL SPINAL CORD INJURY: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event PHOTOTHERAPY AND STECCO FASCIAL MANIPULATION AS A NOVEL FORM OF NEURO-REHABILITATION IN CERVICAL SPINAL CORD INJURY: A CASE STUDY Anna Martin, BS, LMP, ND(C)1*, Dean Neary, ND1, Leena Suthar, BS, LMP, ND(c)1 and Maziyar Sharafabadi, BA, MP, ND(c)1 1 Neuro Think Tank, United States Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can be grossly debilitating with few neuro-rehabilitative treatment options available1,2. This case study explored the use of phototherapy and Stecco Fascial Manipulation (SFM) as a novel neuro-rehabilitative treatment for a cervical spinal cord injury, 9 years post injury in a 32 year old male. MRI showed a crush injury at C5-C6 spinal immediately after injury, rendering the patient tetraplegic. Bone graft and pins were placed in hospital. Physical therapy and rehabilitation ended six months post injury. Treatment and assessment was limited to the upper extremities due to patient limitations. Assessment revealed gross motor and sensory deficits with a rating of C6 ASIA B by the American Spinal Cord Injury Assessment (ASIA) scale. Motor Function of C5 and C6 was preserved bilaterally (BL) C5=4, C6=3 while C7-T1 =0. Sensory scoring BL was C4=2, C5=1, C6=0, C7=0, C8=0. Phototherapy treatment was initiated and a protocol of infrared (Total=900 Joules BL) and visible red laser (Total=360 Joules BL) was applied at 8 locations BL, three times a week for 6 weeks. SFM was completed once prior to beginning phototherapy, and once after the end of the treatment cycle. After treatment concluded, motor function BL was C5=4+, C6= 4, C7=3, C8=0, T1=0. Sensory function changes were seen BL at C5=2. Patient reported feeling like some “blankets” had been removed and he was able to “feel things better”. Patient also reported moving more freely after SFM. Further study on Phototherapy and Stecco Fascial Manipulation as a neuro-rehabilitative treatment is warranted. Acknowledgements A special thank you to Dr. Steven Rude, Dr. Masa Sasagawa, Dr. Edythe Heus and the entire Neuro Think Tank Team for their support and participation. Additionally, a special thanks to Andy Hewitson for providing the phototherapy equipment needed to the patient.