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Updated: May 20, 2026

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment (RMCA) in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 19, 2013
The review of systems in spinal cord injury and dysfunction
Abstract:
Individuals with spinal cord injury or dysfunction represent unique diagnostic challenges when they present with symptoms of generalized malaise or "feeling lousy." Those individuals with injury or dysfunction at or above the T6 level are specifically at risk for the phenomenon known as autonomic dysreflexia, which is a medical emergency. The underlying cause of autonomic dysreflexia as well as other secondary complications in the patient with a spinal cord injury can best be uncovered through a comprehensive review of systems, which encompasses constitutional, head, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, skin, neurologic, psychiatric, endocrinologic, hematologic, and immunologic issues.
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Somatic Spinal Reflexes
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
Spinal Cord

