Jessica Archibald I am in the first year of my PhD program in Experimental Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). My supervisor, Dr. John Kramer, is a principal investigator with ICORD (International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries), a spinal Read More…
Blog Archives: SCI
Exercise guidelines for individuals with SCI
| 0 commentsThe authors of this study set out to review existing research to create evidence-based exercise guidelines for improving cardiorespiratory health and cardiometabolic health which are specifically designed for those with SCI. Continue reading
New research could lead to changes in SCI recovery guidelines
| 1 commentSpinal cord perfusion pressure is the difference between mean arterial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Continue reading
Wheeling strategies in manual wheelchair users and able-bodied individuals
| 0 commentsWhat is biomechanics? Biomechanics is the science of movement of a living body, including how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement. Continue reading
Cardiovascular health during rehabilitation
| 0 commentsCardiovascular disease is more prevalent within the SCI community than in the general population.The reason for this is because of the extensive amount of bed rest following traumatic spinal cord injury, which results in a low level of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness. Continue reading
Finding a biomarker for acute SCI
| 0 commentsWhat is a biomarker? A biomarker is any measurable indicator in the body that represents a certain condition. Having a biomarker is helpful in assessing an illness, and sometimes in selecting the most effective treatment for the illness.
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Wheelchair angles and heart health
| 1 commentCan the angle of your wheelchair affect your heart health? Have you ever wondered whether different body positions affect the way your heart pumps blood to the rest of your body? Continue reading
How bowel, bladder, sexual dysfunction can affect health
| 1 commentWhat is bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction? Persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) can experience changes to their bladder, bowel, and sexual function secondary to the spinal cord damage. Problems can occur due to a lack of voluntary control over urination and defecation, possibly leading to complications like urinary tract infections. Continue reading
How is neuropathic pain studied?
| 3 commentsWhat is neuropathic pain? Pain typically occurs when damage to the body creates a signal that is relayed to the brain by the nervous system. Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, is pain resulting from damage directly to the nervous system. Continue reading
Exercise heart rate and physical activity after SCI
| 1 commentWhy study physical activity and participation? High-level SCI can cause damage to nerves that regulate the cardiovascular system, making it hard for affected individuals to regulate their heart rate and blood pressure. As a consequence, blood pressure can be very low in people with high-level SCI, and their heart rates are often slow and fail to increase as they should during exercise. Continue reading