Learn More About the Spinal Cord Injury Resources, Rehabilitation and Research at Ohio State

Ohio State offers patient individualized, patient-tailored solutions embedded in dedicated and certified inpatient and outpatient services specialized in SCI neurorehabilitation. The clinical SCI services liaise with international recognized basic and preclinical research at the Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair.

Spinal cord injury is damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal which causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. The Spinal Cord Model Systems Program was developed to produce systematic research and program development to help improve medical care and outcomes for individuals who have experienced spinal cord injury. This system has been proven to be superior over fragmented SCI research.

Spinal Cord Injury Patient Programs

Inpatient Programs

Ohio State's Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Services is a national leader in helping people regain function, wellness and a better quality of life.

Ohio State is a state and national leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Services, a 60-bed facility, is home to Ohio State's inpatient rehabilitation program.

For more than 50 years, Ohio State has forged a tradition of excellence in physical rehabilitation by providing the highest quality care to people with disabling or debilitating injuries and conditions.

Learn more about our inpatient programs

Outpatient Programs

Ohio State's Martha Morehouse Outpatient Services provides nationally recognized and accredited rehabilitation services in outpatient settings.

Whether you are seeking rehabilitative care for a minor injury or a more serious, debilitating disease or condition, Ohio State offers the expert care you need in a convenient, outpatient location.

Ohio State’s team of specialists combines state-of-the-art treatments with personalized care to meet each patient's unique, changing needs and goals.

Learn more about our outpatient programs

Our Research

The national Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System is funding the (Central) Ohio Regional SCI Model System (SCIMS) to be one of 14 sites in its program. This unique program has been in existence since the 1970s, with more than 30 sites participating during the various funding cycles. The program aims to improve our understanding of the factors that impact outcomes following SCI. Participants contribute information about their lives after a spinal cord injury, which is gathered into the National SCI Database, one of the world’s largest. This database enables studies to develop better treatments and resources for improving care and quality of life following injury.

Our Study

PROSPECT ADDITION SCI - A PROSPECTive study of Autonomic Dynamic Dysfunction to predict infecTIONs after Spinal Cord Injury

Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are at a much higher risk for developing secondary infections, such as respiratory infections, when compared to able-bodied individuals. This is due to the fact that SCI weakens the individual’s immune system. One of the cornerstone research studies currently being conducted at the Ohio Regional SCI Model Systems Program aims to identify patients ‘at risk’ for acquiring infections after SCI. We expect that the findings of our study will help doctors prevent secondary infections in patients with SCI.

How we collect our data

Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the variations in the time between an individual’s heartbeat. With the use of heart rate monitors, we are able to detect changes in HRV. Significant changes in HRV indicate that the autonomic nervous system (which controls body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure) is not stable, which can then impact the immune system. Our goal is to determine if early HRV measures can predict subsequent infections in SCI patients. This will improve our ability to prevent infections.

Contact Us

For more information about participation in spinal cord injury research at Ohio State and other options to participate in SCI model systems, please call the research coordinator at 614-293-1454.