FES Cycling - Fitness after spinal cord injury

Physical activity has demonstrated beneficial effects on health and longevity in the general population, and physically active individuals are at lower risk for many chronic diseases compared to their sedentary peers.

Individuals with disabilities in general are less active than individuals without disabilities, but it is still unknown if physical activity confers the same level of risk reduction in populations with as without disabilities. Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have among the lowest levels of physical activity participation compared to other populations. They also demonstrate early onset of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.

This literature review discusses evidence for the potential benefits of physical activity in persons with SCI and provides a summary of pertinent studies to date.

Although being physically active and physically fit appears to be associated with several health benefits in persons with SCI, most studies are small and little longitudinal evidence exists. Future studies will be needed to address this need.

See Fernhall B, Heffernan K, Jae SY, Hedrick B. in

Health implications of physical activity in individuals with spinal cord injury: a literature review.

J Health Hum Serv Adm. 2008 Spring;30(4):468-502. Links

According to an article in the Economist, a few years ago researchers found a way to create a remotely controlled on-off switch in a neuron by inserting a light-sensitive gene into the nerve cell.  Now the same technique has been used experimentally in laboratory rats in a study that could help with spinal-cord injuries.

Read more: How light can move the nervous system

Launch of Stroke Training and Awareness Resources e-learning Website:

This online teaching resource has been developed by NHS Education Scotland, CHSS and University of Edinburgh.

It's a no password entry - self-learning interactive tool which teaches the basics.  Of course its primarily aimed at clinicians. 

Covering the core competencies of stroke - a base line recommendation for education for all professionals working with stroke (sign guideline 64)

See http://www.strokecorecompetencies.org