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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Health consequences associated with poor diet and nutrition in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders
Sherri L LaVela1,2, Gary J Farkas3,4, Kelsey Berryman1
1Department of Veterans Affairs, Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, USA.
Purpose:
To describe health consequences associated with poor diet in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).
Materials/Methods:
Descriptive qualitative design using in-depth interviews with SCI/D health providers. Audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Participants (n = 12) were from 11 nationwide VA hospitals. Participants were male (75%), white (67%), 26-49 years of age, and most were dietitians (75%) and physiatrists (17%). Seven key themes identified consequences associated with poor diet in persons with SCI/D, including (1) Weight gain and body composition changes, (2) cardiometabolic conditions, (3) bowel dysfunction, (4) pressure injuries/wounds, (5) other SCI/D secondary conditions/complications (renal/kidney; immune function/susceptibility to infections; autonomic dysreflexia; bone health/osteoporosis; pain), (6) physical fatigue, and (7) poor mental health.
Conclusions:
Excess weight, cardiometabolic conditions, SCI/D secondary conditions/complications (e.g., bowel dysfunction, pressure injuries), and poor mental health were identified as health consequences of inadequate nutrition. Health providers should make individuals with SCI/D aware of the risks and health consequences to incentivize healthier dietary behaviors. Efforts to identify nutrition shortcomings and to develop interventions and tailored care plans are needed to improve a myriad of health consequences due to poor diet and nutrition in persons with SCI/D.
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