Upper extremity functional restoration for spinal cord injury

Mayo Clinic's approach

• Teamwork. Mayo Clinic's spinal cord injury rehabilitation team meets frequently to coordinate your care, education, training and guidance after your spinal cord injury. Your integrated team may include doctors, surgeons, mental health professionals, nurses, physical therapists, occupational and recreational therapists, and other specialists.
• Subspecialty board-certified doctors. These doctors are specifically trained in care for people with spinal cord injuries.
• Individualized care. Your team will create an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs. The team considers you and your family to be an integral part of the treatment team, and you'll be informed and involved in making decisions and setting treatment goals.
• Advanced technology. Many therapy tools may be used in upper extremity nerve reeducation, including 3D computer technology that compensates for gravity, to promote nerve and muscle (neuromuscular) control while simulating daily life skills. Staff may also use functional electrical stimulation to help improve movement in your arms, wrists and hands.
• Specialized support devices. Therapists may also use a combination of other tools to help improve your upper extremity weakness, including specialty splints and orthoses, mobile arm supports, gravity-assisting devices, and customized adaptations. These tools may help you change your approach to daily life skills.
• Research. Mayo Clinic researchers study outcomes, rehabilitation options and potential treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. When you receive care at Mayo Clinic, you may be eligible for clinical trials on spinal cord injury care.

Expertise and rankings

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors and staff have helped many people recover from traumatic spinal cord injuries and nontraumatic spinal disorders. Licensed and experienced therapists with knowledge and training in functional electrical stimulation work with you and provide daily interventions, including making timely and appropriate changes in your program as needed to best meet your needs and help you reach your goals. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has accredited the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota.
• Ongoing treatment and specialized care. Mayo Clinic doctors and staff trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation offer a full range of spinal cord injury rehabilitation services. Your spinal cord injury rehabilitation team provides inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation and lifelong care. Pediatric specialists trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation care for children with spinal cord injuries at Mayo Clinic's Minnesota campus.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery, for orthopedics, and for rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report.

Read more about diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord injury.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.