Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased risk of secondary conditions. In our study of 91 midwestern veterans with SCI, spasms were the most common secondary condition (70.3%) over 12 months and had the highest percentage of chronic frequency (93.8%). Other secondary conditions reported by at least 50% of participants were repetitive stress injury (51.6%) and fatigue (50.5%). When veterans reported secondary conditions, bowel problems and respiratory infections ranked highest for their interference with important activities. Prevention of secondary conditions is important to participation, which conforms to the new international classification of functioning and disability (ICIDH-2) model.
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