title: Sphincter (ring muscle) gymnastics for spinal cord injured and spinal cord transected patients.
abstract: Sphincter gymnastics seem to be able to recruit central pattern generators--networks of neurons that generate motor patterns--through peripheral rhythmic stimuli and to activate them without supraspinal signals. This physical therapy method is thus suitable for treating spinal cord injured and spinal cord transected patients, for it can reach below the injured segment and feed signals into the central nervous system, thus activating vital organs. This article presents some observations and discusses a possible mechanism.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yom-Tov
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006173:Gymnastics; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*