The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center presents an audio factsheet on Personal Care Attendants. The factsheet was developed by Phil Klebine, MA, Casey Azuero, PhD, MPH, Kelli Arthur, MSW, LICSW, and Jeanne Zanca, PhD, MPT, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. The information in this factsheet is ...
Pain is a serious problem for many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pain after SCI can occur in parts of the body where there is normal sensation (feeling) as well as areas that have little or no feeling.
Our featured video and brief video clips share information about managing pain after sustaining a spinal cord injury. In this video, SCI Model Systems Researchers share how they helped two individuals with SCI diagnose and manage their shoulder pain, which resulted from wheelchair use.
What is a personal care attendant?
A personal care attendant, or PCA, is someone paid to help you with some or all of your self-care and other activities that you need for daily living after spinal cord injury (SCI).
“Personal Assistant” and “Personal Assistant Service” are other terms that refer to similar ...
Are you thinking about getting pregnant?
Having a spinal cord injury (SCI) does not affect your ability to naturally become pregnant, carry, and deliver a baby, so your decision to have children is made in much the same way as anyone else. You consider the demands and challenges of parenting and ...
What is the study about?
This study looked at the prevalence and characteristics of women with spinal cord injury (SCI) who became pregnant during a one year period prior to the study. This study offers insight into the physical, social and demographic characteristics of women with SCI who become pregnant and ...
Having a spinal cord injury (SCI) does not affect your ability to naturally become pregnant, carry, and deliver a baby, so your decision to have children is made in much the same way as anyone else. This infocomic includes information on pregnancy with SCI to answer the common questions women ...
What is the study about?
This study aims to evaluate how valid (reliable) and efficient two measures are that are used in evaluating people with spinal cord injury. The measures are the Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool (SCI-SET) and Patient-Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM). The SCI-SET and PRISM are ...
Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool (SCI-SET) and Patient-Reported Impact of Spasticity Measure (PRISM) using Rasch analysis to optimize their validity and efficiency.
Design: Rasch analysis of the SCI-SET and PRISM represents a secondary analysis of data collected as part of a collaborative ...
What is the study about?
This study’s aim was to describe the relationship between spasticity and perceived quality of life as well as the perceived value of spasticity management approaches for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
What did the study find?
This study found that spasms most often occurred in response to ...
Spasticity is the uncontrolled tightening or contracting of the muscles that is common in individuals with spinal cord injuries. About 65%–78% of the SCI population have some amount of spasticity, and it is more common in cervical (neck) than thoracic (chest) and lumbar (lower back) injuries.