UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System

10/14/2026

Bladder management methods can change. In a recent study using data from 10,769 SCIMS database participants, we found that 10% of people with SCI changed bladder management method within the first 5 years of injury.
Let’s take a closer look. 👀

The most reported bladder management method after SCI was intermittent catheterization at 43%. 26% of people were able to urinate without a catheter, while 25% used indwelling catheters and 5% used condom catheters.

Of those reporting a change within 5 years post injury, 48% changed for medical reasons, 28% changed because of functional improvement, and 19% changed because of personal or lifestyle preferences.

Of those reporting a change within 5 years post injury, 14% of intermittent catheter users changed method. Of those, 49% switched to indwelling catheters. Condom catheter users were the highest percentage to change method at 27%. Of those, 40% switched to indwelling catheters and 40% to intermittent catheters. Less than 10% of indwelling catheter users switched methods. Of those, 42% changed to intermittent catheters.

Whether you are a person with SCI or clinician (or both!), working together to anticipate changes may help reduce complications and support long-term bladder health.

09/30/2026

We are celebrating SCI Awareness Month and the news that UAB Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation has been awarded two 5-year grant renewals from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to continue our work as a Spinal Cord Injury Model System and home of the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.

For more than 50 years, UAB has been part of the SCI Model System network, providing comprehensive rehabilitation care, conducting collaborative research, and sharing knowledge with clinicians, researchers, and people living with spinal cord injury.

We are honored to continue this important work!

09/18/2026

Whether a rookie or pickleball pro, you're invited to a wheelchair pickleball event at CityWalk Bham on Sunday, October 4 from 2-4 p.m. Sports wheelchairs will be provided!
Register: https://app.courtreserve.com/Online/Events/Details/11417/773PIG211417382?resId=59819990&fbclid=IwY2xjawUab2twZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMU1qTjA0T3J1VzREd1JTbUFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEekrZApnXt-QCcxRN9BiPPW2fWNxlfkaUlt322NJm8UsfYVJX8xwKzph6Wj1w_aem_yJIB2sW6oSM8f44ONoC8lg

Join us at CityWalk Bham for a fun intro to pickleball designed specifically for wheelchair users!

The clinic will take place on Sunday, October 4 from 2-4 p.m. with a one-hour clinic, followed by an hour of open play. We have partnered with City Walk to provide sports chairs, so all you need to bring is your curiosity and willingness to learn.

Come on out, learn a new sport and make some new friends! Learn more & register ➡️ https://app.courtreserve.com/Online/Events/Details/11417/773PIG211417382?resId=59819990

08/18/2026

The relentless Alabama heat can make outdoor activities a challenge. Check out these ways to stay cool.

08/14/2026

Looking to improve your home's accessibility without breaking the bank? Check out these 6 off-the-shelf items under $200 people with SCI find beneficial.

Historically, home accessibility has been viewed as specialized and often costly, designed specifically for people with disabilities. Today, advances in smart home technology are creating flexible, customizable solutions that benefit a wide range of needs.

08/06/2026

Explore the trails of Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park September 26-27 as Catalyst Sports teams up with Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers and Lakeshore Foundation for a weekend of adaptive mountain biking. All skill levels are welcome. Learn more and register at http://catalystsports.org/special-events/shred-a-muk

Image Description: A woman on a three-wheeled mountain biking handcycle and a woman on a two-wheeled upright mountain bike ride through a wooded trail.

📸 credit: Catalyst Sports

06/30/2026

Have you been impacted by a natural disaster in 2025/26 like a hurricane, wildfire, flood, winter storm, or heat wave? United Spinal Association is accepting applications for disaster relief grants for individuals with spinal cord injury/disease.

Disaster Relief grants for individuals with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) who have been impacted by natural or human-caused disasters.

06/15/2026

The latest issue of our Pushin' On e-newsletter is out! It includes:
👩‍🦼‍➡️ Research studying how accessibility impacts life with SCI
⛈️ How to prepare for severe weather
💡 Low-cost home accessibility solutions

📰 Give it a read! https://view.reach.uab.edu/?vawpToken=2OFZCPS5LZMETHDDJCOVSPUTUE.100225
📱 Subscribe to receive future publications! https://forms.uab.edu/836

ID: A man pushes his wheelchair down a sidewalk next to the text Pushin' On Newsletter, summer issue.

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."