Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a major long-term risk of spinal cord injury. SCI individuals live in general rather sedentary lives and are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease than the able-bodied population. Therefore, careful assessment of cardiovascular function and the encouragement of exercise programs are appropriate and necessary long-term aspects of spinal cord injury management and care. The prescription of upper extremity exercise programs in spinal cord-injured individuals are similar to those used in other populations with the exception of the use of adaptive equipment such as racing wheelchairs or monoskis.