September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

Spinal cord injuries are caused by sports and vehicular accidents that can often be prevented with awareness and training

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are over 17,000 cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States every year. Overall, the total number of people living with some level of spinal cord injury in the country surpass 285,000. Vehicular accidents are a major cause of spinal cord injuries, followed closely by falls and sports activities in a variety of recreational events.

Spinal injuries have multiple levels, ranging from mild and recoverable injuries to crippling levels where the injured can experience total paraplegia—that is, a complete paralysis of the lower body and legs. And in some cases, spinal injuries can also cause complete quadriplegia, which refers to paralysis from the neck and shoulders down, totally rendering the injured from movement of its body and extremities.

At MyMRI, we are well aware of the effects spinal injuries can have on not just the injured, but on their families and their lives. Paraplegic or quadriplegic individuals often are rendered unable to work or remain active in their careers, resulting in loss of wages and increased anxiety on their families, who must transition to the role of caretakers.

Recent trends in spinal cord injuries also confirm that occupational hazards are a major reason for these types of ailments. However, a decrease in sports-related spinal cord injuries is associated with better training, increased use of protective gear, and a general awareness for the need to react quickly to an injury to ensure proper and effective health care.

Awareness is the first step in preventing spinal cord injuries, but prevention is certainly the best way to ensure you avoid them in the first place. Become aware of the risks associated with certain sports activities and always wear padding or helmets. Even if you don’t think the risk is high, protect yourself and your loved ones to ensure you live a long and healthy life. And consider our MyMRI products to ensure fast and effective treatment by First Responders in the event of an accident or sports injury.

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