Recent Articles

Number One cause of death for those with SCI

Karen Koehler
March 05, 2012 22:23

Surprise!  It's cardiovascular disease. Those with SCI develop the disease at younger ages and at a greater frequency that the able bodied population. The disease includes autonomic dysreflexia - the drastic increase in blood pressure of those with cervical and upper thoracic injuries. ...

Neurogenic bladder, bowel and nutrition

Karen Koehler
February 23, 2012 19:14

  Diet can play a role in managing a neurogenic bladder and bowel.  Neurogenic bowel:  Regular meals should be spaced throughout the day.  Adequate fluid intake is 40 ml per kg body weight plus 500 ml, or at least 1.5 liters per day.  Fiber requirements are less than the...

Work out & eat right for SCI bone health

Karen Koehler
February 17, 2012 20:07

People with SCI are at higher risk for osteoporosis due to lack of weight bearing on lower limbs.  Decreased bone density increases the risk of fractures and related health problems Here are some tips to maximize bone health: Be active! DEXA scan is an imaging machine recommended to measure...

Nutrition, pressure sores, and a new treatment breakthrough

Karen Koehler
February 16, 2012 19:55

Those with SCI have the same protein nutrition needs as the general population.  This changes if a pressure sore develops.  Wound healing requires a big increase in protein.  A person with or without SCI needs 0.8 to 1.0 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day. Those with...

Factors associated with heart disease risk in SCI

Karen Koehler
February 10, 2012 01:07

Heart disease risk can be reduced by keeping cholesterol, waist circumference and other risk factors in check. Blood fats (lipids) target goals:  Keep total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl.  Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl. LDL the "bad cholesterol" needs to stay under 130 mg/dl. ...

Please don't Supersize Me - SCI nutrition and weight issues

Karen Koehler
February 09, 2012 03:05

Those with SCI need fewer calories than the non-paralyzed.  This is because metabolic activity decreases after SCI due to denervated muscle. Generally, those with paraplegia should weigh  5-10% and those with tetraplegia, 10-15%  less than normative weight tables.  Just as...

The story of Toby Forrest

Karen Koehler
November 06, 2011 17:24

A young musician named Toby had a diving accident.  He became a C5 quadriplegic.  This movie tells Toby's inspirational story.  This movie was published by the Foundation for Biomedical Research.  www.fbresearch.org  

Being paralyzed doesn't mean being pain free

Karen Koehler
October 04, 2011 19:37

22 years ago, Kurt Gengenbach became a C4 quadriplegic during a senior high school hockey game.  He went in for a hit, lost the edge of his skate and slammed headfirst into the boards.Many people assume that if you are paralyzed, you can't feel anything.  But this is not...

Sponataneous recovery after SCI

Karen Koehler
September 25, 2011 21:04

Almost all people who sustain a SCI show some recovery of motor function below the initial spinal injury level. The spontaneous recovery of motor function in those with motor-complete SCI is fairly limited.  But recovery in incomplete SCI patients is both more substantial and highly...

Doctors told her parents she wouldn't live past age 14

Karen Koehler
September 22, 2011 21:13

Janet Barnes was born with a broken neck in 1928.  Doctors told her parents she wouldn't live past age 14.  Janet married and raised four children with her also wheelchair bound husband.  She worked in a photo-retouching lab and volunteered at a community guarden coalition and for...