Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

What level of spinal cord injury may still show some bowel and bladder impairments even with ambulation abilities?

1. L1-L5

2. S1-S4

3. T1-T12

4. C6

The correct answer is: S1-S4

Individuals with spinal cord injuries at the S1-S4 level may demonstrate some bowel and bladder impairments despite the ability to ambulate. This is due to the fact that the S1-S4 nerves are responsible for the pelvic organs and play a crucial role in bowel and bladder function. While ambulation may be possible through compensation from other muscles and neurological pathways, the automatic and voluntary control of bowel and bladder functions could still be impacted. Injuries at this level often result in a range of functional outcomes, and individuals may experience varying degrees of retention or incontinence. The surrounding muscles are often still under the influence of incomplete signals from the nervous system. As such, individuals might be able to walk but continue to deal with impairments related to bowel and bladder control. Other spinal levels listed, such as L1-L5 and T1-T12, could yield different functional abilities and impacts on bowel and bladder control, while injuries at C6 are typically associated with more significant motor impairments due to the higher location of the injury.