Introduction

A traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event that has both physical and emotional consequences for the individual and their support system. Timely medical and rehabilitation care is critical for optimal outcomes. The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury, commonly referred to as the ASIA Exam is the global standard for the classification of SCI. The main goals of the ASIA Exam are to provide standardised and detailed documentation of the SCI neurological level of injury, guidance for radiographic assessment and intervention, and determination of the extent of the SCI. This is significant as it gives an initial indication of injury prognosis and future rehabilitation potential. This course introduces the ASIA Exam, explains how to calculate and interpret the results and discusses real-world consequences of the examination's findings.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• categorise the purpose and key components of the ASIA sensory and motor examination
• explain how to determine the neurological level of injury and AIS grade for individuals with a spinal cord injury using the ASIA sensory and motor examination
• classify the neurological level of injury and AIS grade for an individual with a spinal cord injury in a given case scenario

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1.5-2 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.5 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Stacy Schiurring: No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.