Background and Aim: SPINAL CORD injury (SCI) leads to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions and changes in different nerve fibers that can greatly impact the quality of life of many people. Neuroplasticity is a spontaneous mechanism of the nervous system to adapt to different molecular, physiological, and anatomical changes after SCI. Methods and Materials/Patients: A literature search of relevant articles was made with a focus on recent publications. Results: This narrative review first discusses the definition of neuroplasticity in the nervous system and cellular processes of neuroplasticity in the synapses and their effects on synaptogenesis and neuroplasticity. We describe some of the important central and SPINAL neuronal pathways and their role in voluntary movements and the regenerative capacity in neuroplasticity and functional recovery. Then this review focuses on the effects of exercise and training programs and different neuromodulation techniques using electrical stimulation (ES) on the development of neuroplasticity. These rehabilitation and neuromodulation techniques accelerate the release of some neurotrophic factors to enhance neuroplasticity and functional sensorimotor recovery. Conclusion: This narrative review emphasizes the importance and capability of neuroplasticity in improving functional recovery and quality of life of the people following SCI. It identifies that different physical rehabilitation and neuromodulation strategies induce significant improvements in sensorimotor recovery and underlines that the combination of rehabilitation and neuromodulation techniques provides greater functional outcomes. There is a need for further investigation using preclinical and clinical studies in the future that should concentrate on the basic molecular and cellular processes of neuroplasticity and investment in enhancing the rehabilitation and neuromodulation techniques and finding new techniques.

2Introduction: Since traumatic SPINAL CORD injury involves both the body and mind, in addition to pharmacological and physiological interventions, psychological interventions should also be considered in the management of the problems of this group of patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of group narrative therapy on the mental coherence of patients with traumatic SPINAL CORD injuries. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 32 patients with traumatic SPINAL CORD injury referred to Tabriz welfare counseling center. For the first time, the samples were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The patients in the experimental group received the group narrative therapy in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. The Flensburg sense of coherence questionnaire was completed before and immediately after the intervention sessions in both groups. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measures. Results: The mean age of the patients in the experimental group was 45.69±12.53 and in the control group, it was 44.63±12.98 years. In the pre-test, there was no significant difference between the mean mental coherence score of patients in the experimental group (73.06±14.62) and the control group (78.56±10.10) (p>0.05). After the group narrative therapy, the mean mental coherence score of the patients was significantly different between the experimental (88.69±4.60) and control (82.25±9.98) groups. Conclusions: Group narrative therapy can increase the mental coherence of patients with traumatic SPINAL CORD injuries. Therefore, it seems that psychiatric nurses can use this method as a suitable intervention in improving the mental coherence in this group of patients.

Polyphenols have been shown to have some of the neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative DISEASES. These effects are attributed to a variety of biological activities, including free radical scavenging/antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. In this regard, many efforts have been made to study the effects of various well-known dietary polyphenols on SPINAL CORD injury (SCI) and to explore the mechanisms behind the neuroprotective effects. The aim of this paper is to present the mechanisms of neuroprotection of natural polyphenols used in animal models of SCI.