A spinal cord injury research conference was held in June of 2024 in Washington, D.C., for experienced and new data collectors and managers of research hospitals located throughout the United States.  The Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS), along with The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) and the National Institute on Disability, Independent...Continue Reading

I was eighteen years old when I was working at JobCorp and had just earned my first weekend pass, where I traveled to Indiana.  I was with a guy I was working with, and we enjoyed ourselves while walking down a street.  A stranger came up to us and started a fight.  I was holding...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 the past, we featured the Factsheet of Living with an SCI.  This time, we wanted to feature a source...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

If you or someone you know has a disability, it’s crucial to remember that the equipment we rely on may not last forever. A breakdown or malfunction can leave us without the means to stay active and independent.  This is why having an emergency back-up plan for all your important devices and supplies is not...Continue Reading

The MetroHealth Adaptive Life Technologies (ALT) Lab promotes clinically-guided, peer-informed, and community-collaborative assistive technology provision to individuals living with SCI throughout Northeast Ohio. exposes patients to a wide variety of technologies to meet clinical goals beyond those targeted in traditional rehabilitation including home automation, environmental control, computer access, and adaptive gaming — among others. a...Continue Reading

Let’s talk Mental Health!  Mental Health awareness is about recognizing the impact of trauma on overall wellbeing.  Did you know that studies have found spinal cord injury (SCI)  increases the risk of mental health disorders?  You are truly not alone if you struggle with a mental health disorder. It’s okay not to be okay! Depression...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

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States today.  The love for this sport comes from the inexperienced all the way up to the athletic veteran willing to learn this new and exciting sport.  Pickleball is a combination of tennis and ping pong.  Players need only a paddle and the desire to learn and...Continue Reading