Rolling Drills to Develop Core Strength and Independence after Spinal Cord Injury

Turning in bed is one of the first skills occupational therapists teach newly injured SCI patients before leaving the hospital.

Because this skill is high on the priority list before discharge, patients are often taught to use momentum to turn over: throwing the arms from side to side, and building rocking power to finally roll over. 

While this strategy can “get the job done” and the skill can be checked off the to-do list for hospital discharge, this momentum strategy can be contraindicated for those with precautions against twisting the spine, and it is nearly impossible to do when wearing any type of cervical or thoracic spine brace. 

In addition, this strategy does not build core stability and trunk control after SCI in the most efficient way. This article outlines three alternative ways to improve control and fluidity in rolling, or turning over in bed, and develop deeper core and trunk control after cervical or thoracic spinal cord injury.