Hockey Spinal Cord Injury
Matt Olson, a 20 year old young man, suffered a severe spinal cord injury while playing hockey in Chicago. He was moving full speed and lost his balance going head first into the boards. Matt says he remembers laying there trying to move but he just couldn't do it. He had suffered a severe spinal cord injury. He suffered broken bones in the neck and his spinal cord was pinched at the C4 level, unfortunately leaving him paralyzed below the shoulders with some feeling in his biceps and forearms. He underwent surgery and spent several weeks in a Chicago hospital where he regained the ability to talk and eat. The doctors expect that Matt will regain some movement in his shoulders but that is about it.
Matt's story is one that is tough to hear. He is a young 20 year old kid who just wants to enjoy life. Its awesome to hear him say his injury isn't going to stop him from living life. He is gonna be the same kid, with a good personality who cracks some good jokes every now and then. As his doctor said "life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent on how you handle it." Matt is returning home and his home is being modified to help him live more independently. Matt understands his life is going to be different but is not going to let that stop him from living his life.
As a future OT, Matt is the ideal client. He's a hard worker, and displays a great attitude wanting to get better. He is able excel at activities much quicker than most people with the same injury. Doctors say part of the rehab process is trial and error trying to get Matt as independent as possible. Matt exercises everyday using a bike that sends signals to his muscles simulating a bike riding experience. Exercising everyday and doing more and more activities is just part of the process in helping Matt become more and more independent.
Ultimately OT can play a major role in Matt's recovery. Part of our job is to get Matt back to becoming more independent and helping him do things that he loves to do. So how do we do that? As Matt's family mentioned, they are building a modified home with equipment to help Matt, so OTs can provide suggestions that would be ideal for Matt's situation. It is important for us as well to figure out what Matt loves to do. Unfortunately having a C4 spinal cord injury is going to limit Matt's abilities, but that does not mean we can't find things that he loves and wants to do. Finally we want to help Matt develop strategies that make him as independent as possible when going back into his home and community life. I think the most important thing to remember in a case like this is that Matt is kid who just wants to have fun and make the most of his life and we can help him do this.
Here are a couple resources if you want to learn more about Matt's story.
Matt's story is one that is tough to hear. He is a young 20 year old kid who just wants to enjoy life. Its awesome to hear him say his injury isn't going to stop him from living life. He is gonna be the same kid, with a good personality who cracks some good jokes every now and then. As his doctor said "life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent on how you handle it." Matt is returning home and his home is being modified to help him live more independently. Matt understands his life is going to be different but is not going to let that stop him from living his life.
As a future OT, Matt is the ideal client. He's a hard worker, and displays a great attitude wanting to get better. He is able excel at activities much quicker than most people with the same injury. Doctors say part of the rehab process is trial and error trying to get Matt as independent as possible. Matt exercises everyday using a bike that sends signals to his muscles simulating a bike riding experience. Exercising everyday and doing more and more activities is just part of the process in helping Matt become more and more independent.
Ultimately OT can play a major role in Matt's recovery. Part of our job is to get Matt back to becoming more independent and helping him do things that he loves to do. So how do we do that? As Matt's family mentioned, they are building a modified home with equipment to help Matt, so OTs can provide suggestions that would be ideal for Matt's situation. It is important for us as well to figure out what Matt loves to do. Unfortunately having a C4 spinal cord injury is going to limit Matt's abilities, but that does not mean we can't find things that he loves and wants to do. Finally we want to help Matt develop strategies that make him as independent as possible when going back into his home and community life. I think the most important thing to remember in a case like this is that Matt is kid who just wants to have fun and make the most of his life and we can help him do this.
Here are a couple resources if you want to learn more about Matt's story.
Exclusive: 1-on-1 with injured hockey player, Matt Olson. (2016, May 20). Retrieved from http://www.kare11.com/mb/news/exclusive-1-on-1-with-injured-hockey-player-matt-olson/205434233
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