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Related Experiment Video

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In Vivo Telemetry to Record Long-Term Cardiovascular Parameters, Temperature, and Activity in Spinal Cord Injury Rat Models

In Vivo Telemetry to Record Long-Term Cardiovascular Parameters, Temperature, and Activity in Spinal Cord Injury Rat Models

Published on: January 2, 2026

Aging with spinal cord injury.

Susan Charlifue¹, Amitabh Jha, Daniel Lammertse

¹Research Department, Craig Hospital, 3425 South Clarkson Street, Englewood, CO 80113, USA. susie@craighospital.org <susie@craighospital.org>

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America

|May 25, 2010

Summary

Aging individuals with spinal cord injuries face secondary health conditions impacting independence and community integration. This review details age-related issues and interventions for this population.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Rehabilitation Medicine
Neuroscience

Background:

Spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors are living longer, leading to an increased prevalence of age-related health issues.
These secondary conditions can significantly impair physical function and community participation in aging SCI populations.
Understanding these challenges is crucial for maintaining quality of life in long-term SCI survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review the health issues encountered by individuals with spinal cord injuries as they age.
To describe age-related changes in body systems and their impact on physical independence.
To explore alterations in community participation and perceived quality of life in this demographic.

Main Methods:

Literature review synthesizing emerging research on aging with spinal cord injury.
Clinical experience-based insights into age-related secondary conditions.
Body system-by-body system analysis of health challenges.

Main Results:

Aging with SCI presents a spectrum of secondary conditions affecting cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and integumentary systems.
Diminished physical independence and altered community integration are common sequelae of aging in SCI.
Perceived quality of life may be negatively impacted by these age-related changes.

Conclusions:

Proactive management and targeted interventions are necessary to mitigate the effects of aging in individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Further research is needed to develop and validate strategies for promoting healthy aging in this population.
Maintaining physical function and community engagement is key to enhancing the quality of life for aging SCI survivors.