An unusual mechanism of spinal cord injury due to active neck stretching and its functional implications

A young man experienced a spinal cord injury after stretching his neck, even though X-rays and other scans didn't show any damage to his spine. This condition is called SCIWORA, and this case is unusual because it was caused by active neck stretching. The patient underwent a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program for 4 weeks, receiving multiple therapies to improve his motor control, strength, balance, and independence in daily activities. The case highlights the importance of considering unusual mechanisms of injury in SCIWORA and the potential benefits of comprehensive rehabilitation in improving functional outcomes.

• 1
  Active neck stretching can lead to SCIWORA, even in the absence of vertebral column damage.
• 2
  Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation can improve functional outcomes in patients with SCIWORA due to active neck stretching.
• 3
  Ergonomic history is important in patients with nontraumatic SCI to identify potential causes such as abnormal neck movements.