Areas where bones are close to the surface (called "bony prominences") and areas that are under the most pressure are at greatest risk for developing pressure sores.
In bed, body parts can be padded with pillows or foam to keep bony prominences (areas where bones are close to the skin surface) ...
What is skin tolerance?
Skin tolerance is how much time your skin can stand to be under pressure before damage starts to occur. Each person's skin tolerance is different. Some people may need to relieve pressure very often, others may not have to do it as often, but they still need ...
What do I need to know?
Ninety-five percent of all pressure sores are preventable!
After spinal cord injury, your skin requires daily care and a lot of attention.
You will need to spend time daily cleaning the skin, keeping it dry (from incontinence or perspiration), checking the skin for problems or changes, moving ...
What do I need to know?
Individuals with SCI are at high risk for developing pressure sores.
Pressure sores can be life threatening.
Possible complications:
Infections can develop and spread to the blood, heart and bone.
Amputations
Prolonged bed rest necessary for healing can keep you out of work, school and social activities for months.
Because ...
A pressure sore (also called pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, decubiti (plural), bedsore or skin breakdown) is an area of the skin or underlying tissue (muscle, bone) that is damaged due to loss of blood flow to the area. Blood flow to the skin keeps it alive and healthy. If the ...
What is the study about?
This study investigated the effectiveness of CareCall, an interactive, low-cost phone system developed for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Callers to CareCall receive automated medical support and information. Researchers looked at how CareCall is used by and benefits people with SCI ...
The pressure relief technique you use will depend on your level of injury, the type of wheelchair you use and how much movement and strength you have in your arms and shoulders.
Tilting or reclining
If you are unable to perform independent pressure reliefs, you can use a power tilt wheelchair for ...
Part of the Hot Topics Series: Exercise and Fitness after Spinal Cord Injury
This 19-minute video features individuals with SCI who share their fitness routines and explain how exercise has improved their quality of life. The video also includes expert input from health care professionals at the University of Pittsburgh Model ...
What is the study about?
Survival within two years after spinal cord injury (SCI) has greatly improved over the past few decades, although long-term survival after the first two years has not shown significant improvement. However, people with SCI still have higher rates of mortality than people without SCI. To better ...
What is the study about?
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death after serious spinal cord injury (SCI). Researchers wanted to learn if spinal cord injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome (SCI-IDS) contributed to the development of pneumonia or whether the motor paralysis and environment accounted for the frequency of contracting pneumonia. They ...
What is the study about?
This experiment was conducted to test whether nicotine taken by mouth in the form of gum reduces or worsens pain felt after spinal cord injury (SCI). Pain was classified as musculoskeletal (MS), pure neuropathic (NP) or complex neuropathic (cNP). MS symptoms include pain described as “aching” ...
Respiratory Health and SCI Infocomic
After spinal cord injury, the signals sent from your brain can no longer pass beyond the damage to the spinal cord, making it hard to control the muscles you would normally use for inhaling and exhaling. This comic includes information on respiratory health and SCI and ...
What does the respiratory system do?
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 the oxygen to survive, and carbon dioxide must be removed to avoid the build-up of acid in your ...
People with SCI are more likely than the general population to have health problems related to not being active. Regular exercise can help to reduce the risk of health problems after SCI.
What is the study about?
Most individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) have shoulder pain. The study investigated the effects of a 12-week home exercise program (HEP) on shoulder pain and function in people with chronic SCI that focused on the supraspinatus tendon (a tendon located on the back of ...
This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Exercise and Fitness After Spinal Cord Injury Amanda Harrington, M.D., Medical Director, discusses Strengthening and Protecting the Shoulders.
The human body was designed to walk on our legs, and our legs tend to ...
This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Exercise and Fitness After Spinal Cord Injury. Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT, ATP, researcher, discusses Accessing Adaptive Equipment.
A barrier that some people might find with different types of fitness is … for sports, ...
This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Exercise and Fitness After Spinal Cord Injury. Michael Boninger M.D, researcher, discusses The Benefits of Team Sports.
I think team sports and spinal cord injury bring in not only fitness, so you’re propelling ...