Impact of pain and spasticity on quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious health condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people around the world every year. People who suffer from a spinal cord injury (SCI) often face many problems two them are pain and spasticity (uncontrolled muscle stiffness or tightness). These problems can make it hard for individuals to move around, take care of themselves, and enjoy social or emotional activities. As a result, their overall quality of life can be seriously affected. Even with treatment and rehabilitation, many continue to struggle with these issues. That’s why it is important to understand how pain and spasticity truly impact different areas of life for people living with SCI. Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of pain and spasticity on quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital-based random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using standardized tools. Pain and spasticity were measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), while quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: The study revealed that participants' quality of life was significantly influenced by their experiences of pain and spasticity following spinal cord injury. Pain was strongly associated with emotional distress, reduced energy, poor general health, and limited social participation. Spasticity, on the other hand, was primarily linked to physical role limitations but showed minimal effect on emotional or social domains. These findings highlight the differential impact of pain and spasticity on daily functioning and psychological well-being in individuals with spinal cord injury. Discussion: The findings suggest that pain and spasticity significantly affect different aspects of quality of life (QoL) in individuals with spinal cord injury. Pain was strongly linked to emotional well-being, energy, and social participation, highlighting its deep psychological and social impact. In contrast, spasticity mainly affected physical role performance, limiting daily activities but not emotional or social domains. These results underscore the need for differentiated treatment strategies: emotional support and pain management to improve psychosocial outcomes, and targeted physical therapies to address spasticity-related impairments. The study emphasizes the importance of individualized care in SCI rehabilitation to enhance overall QoL. Keywords: Pain, spasticity, quality of life, spinal cord injury.