[Lucydog]

Ive noticed recently that Im having problems sitting up straight and generally trunk instability. If I turn my chair suddenly my body tends to sway over to one side. My balance doesnt seem to be so good generally. Ive also had a lot of recent bladder trouble as well lately. Im only T12 incomplete so I did not think Id be having such problems.

thanks

lucy.

[sarah o]

hi Lucy ~

me too! i am tipping over really easily lately.. i am a t4, but i didn't used to be so tippy. then i realized i have been laying down flat much more than i ever have b4 since my injury ~ so not using any stomach muscles at all. been telling my self i've really got to do a little bit of a workout for my trunk ~ just sitting on the bed and trying to sit up straight, then slouching, then up straight again.

at this point it's only a thought. now i need the "umph" to actually do it.

i wonder if getting a bit of trunk exercize would improve bladder function?

hmm, let us know if you come up with anything.

meanwhile, have a great day, from one tippy to another!

Sarah.

[wriggley]

hi Lucy,

i have some stability problems too i tend to collapse on the right hand side. My lower abs just dont seem to "pull" i didnt realise how bad it was until a recent ski trip.

[AHolland]

Like anything, if you don't use it,.. you lose it. A lot of us rely on our wheelchair backs for a lot of our natural support. Not really a slouch, but for day to day stability. At these high levels (T4) we may not have any control of our abs, or limited control so it's easy to lose what little we have. At the lower regions, there should not be this problem.

A number of reasons could contribute to it from lazyness to pressure on the spine from things like cysts. I go to an exercise program twice a week and specifically deal with trunk support. I sit straight up in my chair so my back is not touching back rest. Hands free floating beside my wheels/rims. I then have an attendant gently pushme forwards out of my chair and hold in that position as I try to push back into my chair. We repeat the exercise in all directions with me trying to stay straight up in my chair and not grabbing onto anything.

Having done that twice a week, I still have poor trunk support. It would probably be worse without the exercises though. Such is life with a T3/4/5 complete...

[Simon]

Hi
I have terrible balance but then I'm c4 complete! I always fall to my left, constant fight and having no arm movement end up throwing my head/neck about to readjust myself.
You can get backs for the w/chairs which aid support (a friend has one who's c6/7) as her posture was awful when we first met, hips on one side of chair, shoulders on the other. Its really helped her as it part hugs her back.
Simon

[Jilly]

My guy has bad balance as well (T5 complete) I think the funniest time is affects him is when he is sitting up in bed, I accidently bump him and he nearly goes flying off the bed sideways!.......I havent quite sent him head down bum up on the floor (yet!)..........Im learning to be more careful!!

[KimAndSophie]

Jilly, on Mar 16 2006, 08:01 PM, said:

I havent quite sent him head down bum up on the floor (yet!)....

I went to see my neurologist a few months ago and was "trying" to prove to him that my transfers were fine and I could do them without any help at all. Well I transfered from my wheelchair to the exam table (which was at the same level as my chair). Of course my wheels were wet from the snow, so as I pushed against my cushion my chair move away from me and in a failed attempt to catch myself as I got thrown backwards on the table my hand totally missed because those things are not that wide lol. I ended up almost diving head first off the back of the table! Why don't they ever put them against a wall! My new neurologist, who had only met me about 10 minutes before this had to leap over just in time to catch me. Talk about embarrassing!

[keps]

I can relate to the trunk instability thing!

I have a T2 complete injury, so have no trunk muscles at all. My balance is bad, however, I am good at using my arms to balance (obviously at T2 my arms and hands are fine).
I think being in the habit of leaning to pick things up (using opposite arm to grab side of chair) and also using the front frame of my chair for leaning has really improved what I can do with my body, using my arms.
I'm quite floppy, so have to be on guard with regards to my arms, to make sure I just don't flop all over the place.

edited for typo

This post has been edited by keps: 24 March 2006 - 06:57 PM

[kanga2433]

Yes, Keps is right. Even if you don't any of those so useful abdominal muscles you can learn techniques so no one would know. I have quite high seat on my wheelchair so I have to reach a way bit more the the ground. I just have to make sure I have a hold on the other side of the chait to help pull back afterwards. On the other hand, after 23 years almost no one would be impressed if I coulldn't do such things.

So keep at it and work out your own way of doing things; th method you get taught at the SIU isn't the only way to do things.