Self-reported problems after spinal cord injury: Implications for rehabilitation practice

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The purpose of this study was to identify self-reported problems among people with spinal cord injury (SCI), their relationship with aging after SCI, and how they change over time. Data on self-reported problems were collected during the second and third stages of a longitudinal aging study. Factor analysis of the stage 2 data revealed 4 factors reflective of emotional adaptation, dependency, health problems, and the environment. Four scales were developed based on this analysis. Comparisons of scale scores over time and between cohorts based on years post injury failed to reach significance. Areas in which participants cited the greatest number of problems included pain, lack of income and money problems, spasticity, stress and worries, and their sex lives. The results of these comparisons suggest that at least a portion of people with SCI experience significant problems in a number of areas of life, resulting in ongoing stress. These problems do not appear to be highly correlated with aging, suggesting they will not necessarily become more problematic, nor are they likely to self-remediate.

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