The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation would like to recognize September as Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

What is spinal cord injury?

According to the United Spinal Association, spinal cord injury is an injury to the spinal cord that may affect motor, sensory and autonomic function often resulting in paralysis, loss of sensation, and autonomic dysfunction. People who sustain a spinal cord injury often have permanent and profound neurologic deficits and accompanying disabilities.

Facts & Figures

• The estimated number of people with SCI living in the United States is approximately 296,000 persons, with a range from 252,000 to 373,000 persons.
• The average age at injury has increased from 29 years during the 1970s to 43 since 2015.
• About 78% of new SCI cases since 2015 are male.
• Recently, about 24% of injuries have occurred among non-Hispanic blacks, which is higher than the proportion of non-Hispanic blacks in the general population.
• Vehicle crashes are the most recent leading cause of injury, closely followed by falls. Acts of violence (primarily gunshot wounds) and sports/recreation activities are also relatively common causes.

Resources 

• Professional Insights into Managing Pregnancy after Spinal Cord Injury
• Sexuality and Sexual Function after Spinal Cord Injury 
• National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 
• NIH: Spinal Cord Injury for patients and consumers
• Pregnancy and Women with Spinal Cord Injury 
• Pushin’ On Newsletter Volume 35(2), 2017 
• Reproductive Health for Women with Spinal Cord Injury Video Series 
• Travis Roy Foundation
• Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy

News & Events

UAB's National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center awarded additional five years of funding

Championing a disability: One patient’s journey to the Paralympics and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

Otis' family life following spinal cord injury

Spain Rehab Honors Patient for Building a Better Quality of Life