Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury may occur due to a direct trauma or various infections. Following a spinal cord injury a person may experience varying degrees of upper limb weakness depending on the level at which the damage to the spinal cord has occurred. If one upper limb is affected more than the other the person may then compensate by using their less affected or stronger arm. Although this may be quicker and more efficient, failing to involve the weaker side means that there is less opportunity to practice and therefore less chance of recovering meaningful use. This is often referred to as 'learned non-use'.