Rehabilitation: Spina Bifida

Spina Bifida is a developmental birth defect that occurs the when the spinal cord does not close all the way during the fetal stage.The different types of conditions categorized by severity and include;

Anencephaly:

is the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp that occurs during embryonic development.

Spina Bifida occulta:

incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord.

Meningocele:

incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord

Myelomeningocele:

incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord

Symptoms:

In newborns there is buildup of fluid in the brain, requiring a shunt to be placed in the brain. A brain shunt is a narrow piece of tubing that is inserted into the brain in the fluid-filled ventricle.

Rehab management:

Surgery is used to close the the opening site in the spine. Rehabilitation can also be limited to the severity of the birth defect; site of the opening of the neural tube,the age of the patient, and the mental impairment. Exercise is encouraged to develop functionality and developmental growth.

Good Exercises.

Bike- (Nu-Step) - allows patient to push and pull with either hands or feet.

Arm ergometer - if the patient’s lower body is hurting, the upper body can still be conditioned for  workout. Allowing blood flow to the body, which blood carries nutrients to the whole boy.

References

1.Alatas, I., Demirci, H., Canaz, H., Akdemir, O., Baydin, S., & Ozel, K. (2015). The role of urodynamic studies in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with spina bifida. Asian Journal Of Neurosurgery, 10(1), 83-86. doi:10.4103/1793-5482.154872