People who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) when they are young, can expect to live a long life. However, as they get older, they can develop problems associated with ageing.

As bodies age, muscles get smaller and weaker, wear and tear on joints can cause pain and stiffness and skin gets thinner, more easily damaged, and takes longer to heal. These changes cause problems for all people as they age, but can have a more significant impact on the way a person with a SCI functions.

Many wheelchair users have put more strain on the joints of their upper limbs compared to their able-bodied peers, due to years of transferring, propelling manual wheelchairs, lifting them in and out of the car as well as the usual day to day tasks we use our arms for.

What SCI clients may experience

As someone ages with a SCI they may experience:

• Shoulder and upper limb pain
• More difficulty transferring
• Reduced mobility – either in their wheelchair or walking
• Altered posture, curvatures of the spine, tightness in joints
• Trouble with daily care tasks
• Skin problems and pressure ulcers
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Other pain

These issues can often occur at a much younger age after living for many years with a SCI although not everyone with a SCI will experience signs of ageing at the same rate. Factors such as genetics, age at the time of SCI, weight, life style, level of SCI and presence of other diseases need to be considered.

Professionals who have experience working with people with SCI find that these problems can occur as early as 50 years old or even younger if they have been living with their SCI for 20 years or longer. Physiotherapists, doctors, nurses and occupational therapists with experience can offer advice to consider, as can other people who have had similar experiences living with SCI.

The goal for people aging with SCI should be to continue doing what they can and take advice that helps maintain function for as long as possible, so they can remain as independent as possible throughout their lifetime. Introducing equipment may help people aging with SCI continue to do things on their own and could help preserve energy for other things. Careful planning can reduce repetition of tasks which in turn will help to reduce further strain on painful joints and save energy.

What helps SCI clients maintain their function over the years

Encourage clients to:

• seek help early if having any problems with pain or pressure ulcers
• go for regular health check-ups, even if they are well at the time
• maintain a healthy lifestyle in regards to eating and exercise
• if they are finding daily tasks hard, review the way they do things and consider changing something, to make things easier. This may include the use of equipment or a support person to assist.

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