THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE «EKZARTA» (REDCORD) KINESIOTHERAPEUTIC EQUIPMENT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD PATHOLOGY AT THE CERVICAL LEVEL

The patients suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) at the cervical level need motor rehabilitation the adequate achievement of which is hampered due to the development of tetraparesis up to and including tetraplegia. For this reason, they require creation of the special conditions for making the prescribed physical exercises. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of exercises performed with the use of the “Ekzarta” (Redcord) kinesiotherapeutic equipment on the neurological status of the patients with spinal cord pathology at the cervical level. A total of 102 patients referred to group 1 disability were available for the observation before, during the intermediate and late rehabilitation periods after the traumatic spinal cord injury at the cervical level representing the A, B, C, and D neurological types as estimated based on the ASIA/ISCSCI scale. The examination included gathering complaints, assessment of the neurological status with the evaluation of the motor, manual, locomotor functions, estimation of the inferior segment with normal sensitivity, and the presence of sensitivity in the paralyzed parts of the body. Spastic syndrome intensity was assessed based on the Ashworth scale, and the intensity of pain syndrome with the application of the visual analogue scale. The treatment resulted in the elevation of arterial pressure, reduction of the intensity of spastic and pain syndrome, and significant increase of the motor scores. The statistically significant increase of the locomotor scores was also documented in the patients with types C and D neurological deficit while the patients with neurological deficit of types A, B, C exhibited the significant increase of the manual scores.

traumatic spinal cord disease, “Ekzarta” (Redcord) kinesiotherapeutic equipment, motor score, locomotor score, manual score