What is the best intervention for a patient with a spinal cord injury who has difficulty going down ramps?

What is the best intervention for a patient with a spinal cord injury who has difficulty going down ramps?

• A. Prolonged icing to reduce hamstring pain
• B. Biofeedback training to reduce knee extensor spasticity
• C. Progressive resistance training for the quadriceps
• D. Stretching using a posterior resting splint for tight plantar flexors

Answer: (C)

The best intervention for a patient with a spinal cord injury who has difficulty going down ramps is progressive resistance training for the quadriceps. Strengthening the quadriceps is essential for enhancing knee stability and control, particularly when descending slopes or ramps, where eccentric control of the knee extensors is crucial to prevent buckling or loss of balance. In patients with spinal cord injuries, muscle weakness can significantly affect their ability to perform functional activities. By focusing on progressive resistance training, the patient can build strength, which can lead to improved performance during activities such as navigating ramps. This approach can also contribute to better overall mobility and independence, enabling the patient to engage more confidently in their daily activities. Other interventions, while they may have their specific benefits, do not directly address the primary issue of descending ramps through strengthening the muscle groups necessary for this task.

The best intervention for a patient with a spinal cord injury who has difficulty going down ramps is progressive resistance training for the quadriceps. Strengthening the quadriceps is essential for enhancing knee stability and control, particularly when descending slopes or ramps, where eccentric control of the knee extensors is crucial to prevent buckling or loss of balance.

In patients with spinal cord injuries, muscle weakness can significantly affect their ability to perform functional activities. By focusing on progressive resistance training, the patient can build strength, which can lead to improved performance during activities such as navigating ramps. This approach can also contribute to better overall mobility and independence, enabling the patient to engage more confidently in their daily activities.

Other interventions, while they may have their specific benefits, do not directly address the primary issue of descending ramps through strengthening the muscle groups necessary for this task.