Spinal Cord Case Study

A tumor in the posterior aspect of his spinal cord at C6 that has resulted in a spinal cord injury will affect the tracts in the dorsal column, medial lemniscus, posterior spinocerebellar and cuneocerebellar ascending tracts. (Lundy-Elkman 2013). The posterior spinal cord carries mainly sensory information from the periphery to the brain. This is critical information to the brain and includes sensations about the position of the body and limbs in addition to vibration sense and the ability to finely discriminate touch sensations. Destruction of neurons in the posterior spinal cord results in loss of these sensations below the level of involvement.
Posterior cord syndrome is when the damage is towards the back of the spinal cord. This type

The posterior spinocerebellar tract conveys proprioceptive information from proprioceptors in the skeletal muscles and joints to the cerebellum. It carries proprioceptive information from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs of ipsilateral part of trunk and lower limb. Proprioceptive information is taken to the spinal cord via central processes of dorsal root ganglia. Tom will have difficulties with maintaining his balance, coordination and posture. Coordination in the lower extremities is important in everyday life therefore Tom will have difficulties walking, running and climbing stairs since they all require some degree of balance and coordination. Occupational therapy practitioners enable people with SCI to return to productive lives. Rehabilitation interventions for neuromuscular conditions often address motor learning. Therapeutic gains may be mitigated by changes in a person’s condition. Variability in ataxia and disruption of conscious proprioception vibration, and discriminative touch may make it difficult to control for differences. With this impairment, the occupational therapist should identify control parameters that are most important for Tom. These parameters should include personal characteristics or environmental factors. The therapist should focus on improving Tom’s posture, coordination, balance and postural reactions against external stimuli as well as gravitational changes. In order for this to occur the therapist would also have to assist Tom with the development and strengthening of his joints and development with functions in his upper extremities (Haugen and Mathiowetz