UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System

05/26/2026

Preparing for severe weather can include additional considerations when you have a disability. But if you don't have the time or capacity to check every preparedness box, start with these five ways to prepare for the “what-ifs” while minimizing the stress of the “to-dos.”

Your alarm clock blares. It is time to begin the day. As you wake up, a mental checklist forms: pay the bill, do the laundry, run the errand, attend the appointment.

05/12/2026

Recently, six of our SCIMS research faculty attended the annual American Spinal Injury Association - ASIA Conference. They shared findings from their recent work and gained valuable insights from other researchers. Check out what they’ve been working on.

👩🏽‍🦼‍➡️ Surveying manual and power wheelchair users on the importance of transfer independence after SCI
🛏️ Comparing a skin protection mattress to a standard hospital mattress and how they reduce pressure on the buttocks when lying flat or at an angle.
📉Analyzing the changing demographics and characteristics of spinal cord injuries
📊 Evaluating a feedback dashboard for neurorehabilitation nurses

ID 1: Collage of photos of UAB and other researchers and clinicians at the American Spinal Injury Association annual conference.
ID 2: Summaries of the research projects UAB faculty presented on including comparison of hospital mattresses for optimal pressure relief, changing demographics and characteristics of spinal cord injuries, evaluation of a feedback dashboard for neurorehabilitation nurses, and perspectives on the importance of transfer independence after SCI.
ID 3: Collage of pictures of UAB research faculty at the conference along with quotes of things they learned. Dr. Chen said, "More research and real-world data are now available on aging with a disability, offering practical guidance for people living with SCI." Dr. Coker said, "SCI research is addressing the entire person, connecting mental and physical health and examining the entire span of life and care." And Dr. Cowan said, “It's exciting to see researchers focusing on new ways to measure improvement in motor function."

04/23/2026

Did you know the average age at injury for traumatic spinal cord injury has increased by 15 years since the 1970s? And while vehicle crashes remain the leading cause (37.1%), falls are on the rise, now accounting for 32.5% of injuries.

Explore our newly released data, infographics, and insights at https://sites.uab.edu/nscisc/

Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems

ID 1: Bar graph showing that the average age at injury has increased from 29 years in the 1970s to 44.3 years since 2015.
ID 2: Bar graph showing causes of spinal cord injury since 2015. Vehicular crashes are the leading cause at 37.1%, followed by falls at 32.5% and violence at 15.2%. Sports account for 7.6%, while medical and other causes make up 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively.
ID 3: Bar graph showing the breakdown of type of spinal cord injuries since 2015: 47.7% incomplete tetraplegia, 20.4% incomplete paraplegia, 19.6% complete paraplegia, 11.8% complete tetraplegia, and 0.4% with full recovery.

04/10/2026

Sometimes the best starting point for an exercise routine is right at home. New Mobility asked wheelchair users about their favorite at-home fitness equipment and resources, and here's what they suggested. Want to add something to the list? Drop it in the comments!

We asked our social media audience to share your favorite home workout products and they delivered recommendations on the most accessible strength and cardio equipment, along with online fitness services made by and for wheelchair users. Whatever your budget and level of function, we’ve got something for you.

https://newmobility.com/wheelchair-users-favorite-home-workout-products/

03/30/2026

A spinal cord injury can impact many aspects of life. But how does your community environment impact life with SCI? That's what our collaborative research study, led by Kessler Foundation, is all about.

We invite you to read more about the study and consider enrolling. Participants can earn up to $600 upon completion.

Call 205-934-3335 or email [email protected].

Eligibility Requirements:
Age 18 or older
Live in the community with a SCI/D for at least 1 year
Live in the United States
Leave your house a few days per week
Fluent in English
Comfortable using a smartphone
Have access to a computer/tablet for web-based interviews

Man pushes his wheelchair on an accessible outdoor path.Many things in life shift when you experience a spinal cord injury. How you move, care for your body, and complete daily tasks can change. One aspect of life post-injury that may be an unexpected, and literal roadblock, is the lack of accessibi...

03/26/2026

We asked, and 165 wheelchair users answered!

Click below to view the results of the collaborative study, led by University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury, examining the knowledge, capacity, and frequency people with SCI perform wheelchair maintenance. Then, check out these resources to improve your wheelchair skills and maintenance routine.

📖 Read fact sheets and guides on how to maintain your manual or power wheelchair. https://msktc.org/sci/factsheets/maintenance-guide-users-manual-and-power-wheelchairs

📺 Watch a video on how to clean your manual wheelchair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRw-2l9c4A

💻 Take this free online training program to improve your manual wheelchair skills.
https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cVklB2FgDwpC0C

Kessler Foundation, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

🔧 New publication alert from our research group!

We are excited to share our lates work, in collaboration with UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab:

📄 "Knowledge, Capacity, and Frequency of Performance of Wheelchair Maintenance Among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury"

Wheelchair maintenance is essential for safety, independence, and quality of life, but are wheelchair users being given the tools and training they need to do it confidently?

You can access the full article for free here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2026.02.004

Here's a summary of the findings:

We surveyed 165 manual and power wheelchair users with SCI and found:

✅ Wide variability in maintenance knowledge and confidence, pointing to inconsistent training, not individual shortcomings
🔩 Manual chair users felt least prepared for tasks like checking spokes, welds, and wheel alignment
⚡ Power chair users felt least equipped to check tire pressure, casters, and clean power seat functions
📅 Those earlier in their wheelchair journey had less knowledge and confidence — highlighting the need for training at the time of initial wheelchair provision
♀️ Women reported lower confidence and performance than men, suggesting current approaches aren't reaching everyone equally

The bottom line: these gaps are a call to action for clinicians, educators, and the rehabilitation community. Earlier, more inclusive training needs to be built into the wheelchair provision process.

🔓 Open access — read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2026.02.004

Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems

03/19/2026

On April 1, our Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems partners are hosting a webinar on aging with SCI titled Rolling Forward: Aging Well with SCI - Technology, Mobility, and Independence. Register to learn how everyday smart technology and the right wheelchair setup can make it easier to stay safe, independent, and comfortable at home as you age.
Register today: https://miami.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3QNnB9HlRvuO2ucPUR4Bqw?fbclid=IwY2xjawQo5wpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXbnppY1lrWXFiT290djVwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpTkK8vAMrtr7O4VNkP4r99NYtIW3hzO1XKoRk_nl0N67Gmxa1u3e7Xk5A1C_aem_z3Wln3KxngylSuyIoGdT2w #/registration

We are excited to invite you to our next national virtual webinar in our “Aging with SCI series” titled Rolling Forward: Aging Well with SCI — Technology, Mobility, and Independence!

As people with spinal cord injury age, staying independent takes planning. Everyday smart technology and the right wheelchair setup can both make a big difference. This webinar will show how using both smart technology and the right mobility equipment can make it easier to stay safe, independent, and comfortable at home as you age.

Register in advance at the link in bio or at the link here: https://miami.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3QNnB9HlRvuO2ucPUR4Bqw

03/13/2026

We are partnering with Kessler Foundation to study the impact community environment has on living with a spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D). If you have a SCI/D and meet eligibility requirements, we invite you to join our research study. You can receive up to $600 for completing the study!

Call 205-934-3335 or email [email protected].

Eligibility Requirements:
Age 18 or older
Live in the community with a SCI/D for at least 1 year
Live in the United States
Leave your house a few days per week
Fluent in English
Comfortable using a smartphone
Have access to a computer/tablet for web-based interviews

What You’ll Do:
Complete an online survey
Wear a study-provided smartwatch and download a smartphone app to map trips using GPS
Respond to smartphone surveys 3 times/day about real-time activities and experiences
Complete computer-based interviews to discuss trip maps and experiences in the community

Image Description: Graphic sharing information about spinal cord injury research study with image of person pushing their wheelchair.

03/09/2026

Have you been watching the Paralympic Winter Games and feel inspired to improve your fitness game? The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability offers some great online adapted exercise videos to get you started. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtybibe4lTg

And if you live in the Birmingham, AL area, check out Lakeshore Foundation for adapted sports and fitness classes.

More Online Workouts
💪 NCHPAD 8 Minute Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwMObYmlSHaMVmwsl69b4jjBSrbeSRUiD
🥇Lakeshore Home Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYWyM9fBQAUaSI0ww9O_Z82e2XPybkqeQ

Join exercise physiologist John Reams and participants Ben and Clay for a guided upper body strength workout designed for wheelchair users and individuals wi...

02/18/2026

Smart Home Technology may be making home accessibility more mainstream, but how is it impacting people with SCI? Recently, we collaborated on a study, led by University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury, that examined the Perceived Value, Ownership, and Barriers to Smart Home Technology for people with SCI/D.

The study found that smart TVs, cameras and alarms, thermostats, and voice assistants had the highest percent of perceived benefit.
✔️Read more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003999326000274?via%3Dihub
✔️Check out this list of smart home: products: https://newmobility.com/12-products-to-make-every-room-in-your-house-more-accessible/
✔️Find home accessibility funding opportunities: https://newmobility.com/funding-accessible-home-modifications/



Image Description: A woman sits in her wheelchair in her living room. Next to her is the study title and summary. Most owned technology are smart TVs, voice assistants, smart plugs and smart cameras and alarms. Tech with most perceived benefit are smart TVs, smart cameras/alarms, smart thermostats, and voice assistants. Barriers to ownership are cost and installation.

Shepherd Center
Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Spaulding Rehabilitation
Craig Hospital
Kessler Foundation
Mayo Clinic Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems