Autonomic Dysfunction, Cerebral Blood Flow, and Sleep in SCI: What Do These Mean Clinically?

Friday, November 11, 2022

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Presenter(s)

Gino Panza, PhD

Assistant Professor
Wayne State University, Department of Veteran Affairs
Warren, Michigan, United States
Jill Wecht, EdD

Research Health Scientist
James J Peters VA
Nyack, New York, United States
Sue Ann Sisto, PT, MA, PhD, FACRM

Professor and Chair
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, United States
Wenjie Ji, MS

PhD Student
University of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, United States

Individuals suffering from a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) experience disruptions in most, if not all, physiological systems that regulate homeostasis. These impairments following the SCI ultimately lead to significant disability and a negative impact on quality of life. Three significant physiological areas that impact physical rehabilitation and quality of life in individuals with SCI are impairments in the autonomic nervous system, physiology of cerebral blood flow, and sleep impairments. The purpose of this symposia is to provide the current understanding of autonomic dysfunction, cerebral blood flow, and sleep impairments in SCI, and to explore how these factors impact clinical work in SCI. Additionally, we provide recommendations for how a clinician may be able to utilize the information presented in this symposia for clinical work.

Learning Objectives:

1) Describe the outcomes associated with autonomic dysfunction in SCI
2) Describe our current understandings of cerebral blood flow in SCI
3) Describe the the outcomes associated Sleep Impairments in SCI
4) Describe how these variables impact clinical practice