The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages from the brain to all parts of the body. It also sends messages from the body to the brain. A spinal cord injury closer to the neck will typically cause paralysis throughout a larger part of the body than one in the lower back area.
A spinal cord injury is often the result of an unpredictable accident or violent event. The following can all result in damage to the spinal cord:. When the person arrives at the hospital, doctors will do a physical and complete neurological exam. Because spinal cord injuries are often due to unpredictable events, the best you can do is reduce your risk.
Some risk-reducing measures include:. Some people lead full and productive lives after a spinal cord injury. However, there are severe potential effects of a spinal cord injury. The vast majority of people will need assistive devices such as walkers or wheelchairs to deal with loss of mobility, and some may even be paralyzed from the neck down. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A spinal cord injury — damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal cauda equina — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. Spinal cord injuries Open pop-up dialog box Close. Spinal cord injuries Paralysis of the lower half of the body is called paraplegia. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Central nervous system Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Central nervous system The spinal cord extends downward from the base of your brain. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Spinal cord injury: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed July 10, Hansebout RR, et al.
Acute traumatic spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Jankovic J, et al. Spinal cord trauma. Elsevier Inc. Accessed July 20, Mayo Clinic; Abrams GM, et al. Chronic complications of spinal cord injury and disease. Accessed June 22, Anjum A, et al. Spinal cord injury: Pathophysiology, multimolecular interactions, and underlying recovery mechanisms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Make sure the area is clear of any debris that could cause a fall. Learn all of the rules of contact sports. Following the rules may prevent injury, especially to the spinal cord. Avoid extreme sports. Extreme sports such as bungee jumping, sky-diving, and base-jumping are very dangerous. Accidents which do not prove fatal may cause life long spinal cord damage.
If you do choose to partake in these activities, understand that you are assuming the risk of your injury. Horseback riding is a dangerous activity even when done by a trained rider. Use caution when riding a horse. Get information about the horse you are riding so that you may prepare yourself for the type of ride you are in for and always wear a helmet. Playground Safety Supervise small children at all times. Children like to climb. A fall from even a few feet in the air can cause a spinal cord injury.
Inspect playground equipment. Make sure it is intact before letting children play. Trampolines are fun but can lead to serious injury. Make sure to always supervise children while jumping to ensure that they are jumping safely. Pool Safety While diving into a swimming pool, always make sure there is enough water so that you do not hit the bottom of the pool.
It is a good rule of thumb to not dive into water less than feet deep. Never push anyone into a swimming pool. This could lead to a serious injury including spinal cord damage. Keep the area surrounding a swimming pool clear of hazards and keep it well lit. Laws frequently change, so the accuracy of information cannot be guaranteed. Finding Treatment. Spinal Injury Types.
Additional Spinal Injury Information. Your child may be scheduled for inpatient or outpatient therapy with any or all of our therapists. Therapy may also be scheduled on a regular basis or following a surgery. Your child's first appointment will start with an evaluation to decide where their therapy needs may be.
Our therapists are able to care for a wide variety of orthopedic and neurologic conditions. Our therapy program provides a wide range of services, including activity-based rehabilitation, exercise programs, adaptive sports, aquatic therapy and animal-assisted therapy. These activities help build strength, increase social interaction, and build confidence and independence for children.
If your child needs assistive tools or devices, such as communication devices, standers, movement or bathroom aids, our therapists will teach you and your child on how to use them properly. Shriners Children's patients often describe our staff members as part of their family. This is awesome, because our therapists work hard to involve the entire family in each child's rehabilitation.
When the whole family helps a child with their therapy, there is a much quicker rate of success. Activity-based rehabilitation strategies may include body-weight-supported manual treadmill training, robotic treadmill training on the Lokomat, and functional electrical stimulation FES cycling.
Management of youth with tetraplegic spinal cord injuries may include FES, reconstructive surgery and assistive technology. A motion analysis center assists in evaluation of gait how a child walks in youth with spinal cord injuries who are able to walk.
Wheelchair users are assessed with pressure mapping and wheelchair propulsion how a child moves their wheelchair is evaluated by the unique combination of motion analysis and SmartWheel analysis. Our spinal cord injury program includes a strong emphasis on research. Shriners Children's research teams hope to find a way to help children paralyzed by spinal cord injury and disease to walk again. While scientific investigators seek ways to repair the spinal cord, our researchers develop novel therapies to prevent damage to spinal cord function caused by inflammation that may occur after immunizations and viral infections, or as a component of diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Some of our research studies have been on quality of life issues, long-term outcomes, and the impact of pediatric spinal cord injury on the family. Knowledge gained from these studies may improve clinical practices and improve the lives of patients with spinal cord injuries. We know that a child's needs go beyond the physical. Our care teams support their social, emotional and developmental health with patient programs and activities.
Not all programs are available at every location. Refer a Patient. Spinal Cord Injury Treatments. Becoming a Patient. Your Visit. Patient Portal.
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