by Kim Anderson, PhD It can be scary to think about navigating various transportation options while living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), but getting out of your home can lead to some really wonderful life experiences.  Start with small steps and build your confidence with each experience.  The first step is learning about all...Continue Reading

By Megan Hammond Nechols If you do have access to a private car, truck, van, or other vehicle (we will use ‘car’ for this article), the possibilities are endless. Traveling by car offers freedom and flexibility, but it can also present unique challenges for those living with spinal cord injuries. Ensuring comfort, safety, and accessibility...Continue Reading

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of pneumonia and other respiratory infections, such as COVID-19.  Your level of injury and time since injury impact the function of your respiratory system.  Good nutrition can help decrease your risk of respiratory infections and aid in the treatment of infections when they occur.   While antibiotics...Continue Reading

A pressure injury is a wound caused by constant pressure on the skin.  As a person with a spinal cord injury (SCI), the risk of getting a pressure injury is very high. Pressure injuries can develop in just a few days or even a few hours, they don’t heal like normal skin, and a person...Continue Reading

The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. In previous articles, we have featured the Factsheets on Autonomic Dysreflexia, Managing Pain, Wheelchair Information, and more.  The next resource...Continue Reading

Healthy living is a comprehensive approach to well-being that embodies various aspects of mental, emotional, and physical health. It can involve a range of practices beyond diet and exercise. Allowing yourself to explore alternative therapies can assist with pain management, stress, and overall body balance. Here are a few alternative methods for you to try. Continue Reading

Peristalsis is the involuntary muscular contraction that moves digested food through the intestines.  Spinal cord injury (SCI) changes your peristalsis.  Instead of food passing through the body every 18-24 hours after eating a meal, for those with spinal cord injury it can be up to twice as long. Regular bowel movements are essential to remove...Continue Reading

This past January was the 28th anniversary of my injury. It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent more than half my life in a wheelchair, though I still remember the day as if it were yesterday! There are some years that go by and I completely forget the date until it’s passed. But during this...Continue Reading

By: Ashley Callaway We all understand that physicians and medicine have the capability to save lives, but did you know that physical therapists are the people who give patients back their livelihood? The profession plays an important role in improving and maintaining the physical well-being of patients. There are various types of physical therapy that...Continue Reading

Your respiratory system (or pulmonary system) is responsible for breathing. This system enables you to inhale oxygen into your blood and exhale carbon dioxide. Your body needs oxygen to survive, and carbon dioxide must be removed to avoid the build-up of acid in your body.Continue Reading