An Exploratory Analysis of the Potential Association Between SCI Secondary Health Conditions and Daily Activities

People with traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) experience changes in body structures and functions, impacting their ability to participate in daily activities (DAs). Individuals with tSCI commonly experience secondary health conditions (SHCs) like fatigue and respiratory infections, which are a primary reason for family physician contacts. This study explores the association between post-tSCI SHCs and the ability of people to participate in DAs by determining the increased risk of not participating as much as wanted in DAs when an SHC is present.

• 1
  The presence of an SHC increased the probability of not participating in daily activities. Certain SHCs were associated with many DAs, including light-headedness/dizziness, fatigue, neurologic deterioration, and respiratory infections.
• 2
  SHCs such as shoulder problems and light-headedness/dizziness in tetraplegia, constipation and fatigue in paraplegia, and fatigue and weight problems in AIS D significantly impacted participation.
• 3
  The paraplegia AIS ABC group appears to be most impacted by SHCs due to their physical ability to participate being hindered by the severity of their injury and related health conditions.