In paraplegic patients, damage to the higher segments of the spinal cord prevents it from innervating both lower limbs and/or the trunk, and the patient is unable to autonomously stabilize the lower half of his or her body while sitting, as well as muscle atrophy caused by prolonged braking of the muscles.
Paraplegia is usually a transverse spinal cord injury above the level of the cervical or thoracic medulla. Patients with paraplegia are completely paralyzed below the level of spinal cord injury in the early stage (spinal shock stage), and will have sensory and motor deficits as well as loss of muscle function. When entering the recovery stage, the muscles below the level of injury may undergo disabling atrophy due to the previous prolonged braking and inability to innervate.
Patients with paraplegia should pay attention to daily muscle massage and passive exercise on time to delay muscle atrophy, and undergo rehabilitation therapy under doctor’s guidance as early as possible.