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Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injury Medical Expert Interviews
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Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Basics

Kristine Cichowski is the founding director of the LIFE Center at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. She specializes in the development of systems and processes to help rehabilitation teams understand what’s needed for patients to successfully resume key life activities after a spinal cord injury.

 

Cichowski’s video interview includes answers to basic questions about caregiving and how to avoid caregiver burnout, how patients and families learn the nature of a spinal cord injury diagnosis, and common misconceptions about spinal cord injury and paralysis. She also defines the key elements of a good rehabilitation program, how to overcome obstacles to rehabilitation, when it’s a good idea to return to work or school, and what to know about sex and intimacy after a spinal cord injury. She even discusses ways for people with SCI to get back into their favorite sports.

 

Kristine Cichowski, MS Read Bio

Founding Director, Life Center, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

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