Spinal Cord Injury Research: Working Toward a Cure While Injury Prevention Efforts are Expanding

Congress has designated September as National Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Awareness Month. In addition to raising awareness and support for much-needed cure research, National SCI Awareness Month aims to further educate the public about how paralyzing accidents can be prevented. There is no cure for spinal cord injury, nor is there an FDA-approved therapeutic or device that can restore function. But researchers are working toward these goals, and more research dollars are needed to continue that work. For now, people who sustain a spinal cord injury receive acute care in trauma hospitals and then typically undergo rehabilitation, which can help to restore some function and independence. Early, comprehensive rehabilitation – such as what Shepherd Center provides – yields the best outcomes.Anna Choo Elmers, M.D., is here to discuss how efforts are under way across the nation to prevent spinal cord injuries, especially those caused by distracted driving, falls and diving.