What is an absolute contraindication for exercise in SCI patients?

What is an absolute contraindication for exercise in SCI patients?

• A. High blood pressure
• B. Occasional dizziness
• C. Mild back pain
• D. Autonomic dysreflexia with recent fracture

Answer: (D)

Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients is a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure triggered by a noxious stimulus below the level of injury. A recent fracture provides a strong painful stimulus that can provoke or worsen this response during exercise, leading to severe hypertension, headache, sweating above the injury, and potential complications like stroke or heart problems. Because of the immediate and serious risk, autonomic dysreflexia with a recent fracture is an absolute contraindication to exercise until the dysreflexia is resolved and the fracture is stabilized. The other scenarios don’t carry that same immediate, life-threatening risk. High blood pressure may be monitored and managed with adjustments to the workout, dizziness can be evaluated and addressed, and mild back pain can often be accommodated with modification rather than stopping activity entirely.

Autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients is a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure triggered by a noxious stimulus below the level of injury. A recent fracture provides a strong painful stimulus that can provoke or worsen this response during exercise, leading to severe hypertension, headache, sweating above the injury, and potential complications like stroke or heart problems. Because of the immediate and serious risk, autonomic dysreflexia with a recent fracture is an absolute contraindication to exercise until the dysreflexia is resolved and the fracture is stabilized.

The other scenarios don’t carry that same immediate, life-threatening risk. High blood pressure may be monitored and managed with adjustments to the workout, dizziness can be evaluated and addressed, and mild back pain can often be accommodated with modification rather than stopping activity entirely.