Spinal cord injuries are regarded as ‘traumatic’ or ‘non-traumatic.’ A traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses one or more of the vertebrae.  The most prevalent causes of traumatic spinal cord injuries result from motor vehicle accidents, falling from heights, occupational as well as sports injuries, and violence. Non-traumatic spinal cord injury, on the other hand, usually involves an underlying pathology including infectious diseases, tumours, musculoskeletal disease such as osteoarthritis, Tuberculosis of the spine.

The physical loss of functioning may be temporary or permanent in nature, including loss of various degrees of motor (movement) and sensory (feeling) ability, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction. A spinal Cord injury usually results in very distinctive physical changes, including the loss of movement and sensation in affected limbs (to varying degrees), trunk control and the pelvic muscles are also affected.

Bladder and bowel control are affected and the person who sustained a spinal cord injury is dependent to some degree on others to assist in managing the physical changes.