Spinal Cord Injury Series: From Injury to Participation (Part 4) – Rehabilitation, Participation & Life Beyond Injury - Presented by Louise Condon

This final session shifts the focus to long‑term rehabilitation, participation, and life in the community following SCI. 

Participants will explore how to assess, treat, and support individuals beyond discharge from inpatient care.
The session begins with community‑based assessment and outcome measures, supporting meaningful goal‑setting that aligns impairment, activity, and participation using contemporary rehabilitation frameworks. Emphasis is placed on outcomes that matter to the person with SCI.

Participants will then explore evidence‑informed therapy approaches, including:
Transfer training
Gait re‑education, including orthotic prescription
Activity‑based therapy (ABT)
Floor‑based rehabilitation and Pilates‑informed training

Practical safety considerations are interwoven throughout, addressing common but critical therapy risks such as autonomic dysreflexia, blood pressure instability, thermoregulation issues, and fatigue.

The session concludes by broadening the lens to participation and identity, exploring return to employment, accessibility challenges, adaptive sports, and lifelong physical activity. 

The aim is to equip clinicians to think beyond impairment and support meaningful, sustainable engagement in life roles.
 

Key learning focus
Community-based assessment and outcome measures
Goal setting aligned to participation
SCI rehabilitation approaches and supporting evidence
Therapy safety: AD, BP, temperature regulation
Participation: work, accessibility, sport, and community life