Spinal cord injury rehabilitation begins while you are still in the hospital. Once your condition has stabilized, your doctor and medical care team will recommend the treatment that is best for you before you leave the hospital.

Following a spinal cord injury you and your family are the most important part of the rehabilitation team. Your input will be crucial in setting and achieving goals, organizing family conferences, and creating discharge plans.

The spinal cord injury program at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute offers comprehensive services for all stages of recovery, including acute inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy and lifelong follow-up. See statistics about Sister Kenny's spinal cord injury care.

In some circumstances, your doctor may prescribe comprehensive rehabilitation in a hospital setting. You and your caregivers will meet with doctors and therapists to create an individual care plan that will help you regain as much independence as possible.

Patients admitted to the inpatient spinal cord injury care program at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute receive at least three hours of therapy each day. Typical activities include:

• learning how to get dressed and prepare meals
• learning how to use a wheelchair and move yourself from the wheelchair to a bed, car, and other locations
• attending support groups and individual counseling to help with emotional adjustment
• learning to understand your medications, care for your skin, and manage your bowel and bladder
• practicing rehabilitation skills in the community with the help of therapists.

When your condition has improved your doctor may recommend additional therapy in your community. Outpatient spinal cord injury care offered by Sister Kenny is based on orders from a doctor, recommendations from therapists, and each patient's needs and goals.

Depending on your diagnosis and limitations, the outpatient rehabilitation team will suggest a variety of coordinated therapy services. The team also determines how often therapy sessions should occur and how long you will need treatment.

Your spinal cord injury care plan will be re-evaluated frequently. Therapy services are discontinued when you meet your personal goals and the goals of the rehabilitation team.