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Paraplegia (Spinal Cord Injury) Factsheet

Paraplegia is the partial or complete paralysis of the lower portion of the body,
including the legs and the torso. Paraplegia is the result of an a back injury, occurring
when the spinal cord is injured below the first thoracic nerve.

Paralysis can vary from the impairment of leg movement to the complete paralysis of
the legs and abdomen. The abdominal and chest muscles can also be affected,
causing weakened breathing and an inability to cough and clear the chest.

Spinal cord levels of injury

The extent to which a person’s body will work following a spinal cord injury depends
on the degree of the injury. There are two types:

(a) Complete; and
(b) Incomplete.

In a complete spinal cord injury a person will have no function or sensation below the
level of injury.

In an incomplete spinal injury, a person will have some function or sensation below
the primary level of injury. They may be able to move one limb more than another,
feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or have more functioning on one side of
the body than another.

Where can I get help?

Your doctor
National
- Spinal Cord Injuries Australia
New South Wales
- ParaQuad NSW
Victoria
- Independence Australia
Queensland
- Spinal Injuries Association

How can Just Better Care help?

Just Better care offers a wide range of services that enable people living with a
disability or physical need to achieve a better quality of life. Our services include:
personal care simple to complex care, social support and care coordination of
services.

Just Better Care offer ongoing training to our community support workers and
endorse empowering people to regain and extend their independence.

References

Brain and Spinal Cord Organisation
Better Health Channel
Spinal Injury Network