rical ▁stim ulation , ▁and ▁elect r ically ▁stim ulated ▁resistance ▁exer cis es ▁all ▁of ▁which ▁can ▁improve ▁ar ter ial ▁function ▁in ▁those ▁living ▁with ▁S CI . ▁Phys ical ▁ther ap ists ▁can ▁improve ▁the ▁quality ▁of ▁life ▁of ▁individuals ▁with ▁sp inal ▁cord ▁injury ▁by ▁developing ▁exercise ▁programs ▁that ▁are ▁tail ored ▁to ▁meet ▁individual ▁patient ▁needs . ▁Ada pt ed ▁physical ▁activity ▁equipment ▁can ▁also ▁be ▁used ▁to ▁allow ▁for ▁sport ▁participation : ▁for ▁example , ▁sit - ski is ▁can ▁be ▁used ▁by ▁individuals ▁with ▁a ▁sp inal ▁cord ▁injury ▁for ▁cross - country ▁or ▁down hill ▁ski ing . ▁ ▁The ▁patient ' s ▁living ▁environment ▁can ▁also ▁be ▁modified ▁to ▁improve ▁independence . ▁ ▁For ▁example , ▁ram ps ▁or ▁lif ts ▁can ▁be ▁added ▁to ▁a ▁patient ' s ▁home , ▁and ▁part ▁of ▁re h abil itation ▁involves ▁investig ating ▁options ▁for ▁returning ▁to ▁previous ▁interests ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁developing ▁new ▁purs uits . ▁ ▁Community ▁participation ▁is ▁an ▁important ▁aspect ▁in ▁maintain ing ▁quality ▁of ▁life . ▁ ▁G ait ▁training ▁ ▁Body ▁weight ▁supported ▁t read mill ▁training ▁is ▁another ▁inter vention ▁that ▁phys i other ap ists ▁may ▁assist ▁with . ▁Body ▁weight ▁supported ▁t read mill ▁training ▁has ▁been ▁research ed ▁in ▁an ▁attempt ▁to ▁prevent ▁b one ▁loss ▁in ▁the ▁lower ▁extrem ities ▁in ▁individuals ▁with ▁sp inal ▁cord ▁injury . ▁Research ▁has ▁shown ▁that ▁early ▁weight - b ear ing ▁after ▁ac ute ▁sp inal ▁cord ▁injury