Expected functional recovery following complete spinal cord injury by spinal level

Spinal level	Activities of daily living	Mobility/locomotion
C1-C4	Feeding possible with balanced forearm orthoses Computer access by tongue, breath, voice controls Weight shifts with power tilt and recline chair Mouth stick use	Operate power chair with tongue, chin, or breath controller
C5	Drink from cup, feed with static splints and setup Oral/facial hygiene, writing, typing with equipment Dressing upper body possible Side-to-side weight shifts	Propel chair with hand rim projections short distances on smooth surfaces Power chair with hand controller
C6	Feed, dress upper body with setup Dressing lower body possible Forward weight shifts	Bed mobility with equipment Level surface transfers with assistance Propel indoors with coated hand rims
C7	Independent feeding, dressing, bathing with adaptive equipment, built-up utensils	Independent bed mobility, level surface transfers Wheelchair use outdoors (power chair for school or work)
C8	Independent in feeding, dressing, bathing Bowel and bladder care with setup	Propel chair, including curbs and wheelies Wheelchair-to-car transfers
T1	Independent in all self-care	Transfer from floor to wheelchair
T2-L1		Stand with braces for exercise
L2		Potential for swing-to gait with long leg braces indoors Use of forearm crutches
L3		Potential for community ambulation Potential for ambulation with short leg braces
L4-S1		Potential for ambulation without assistive devices

Graphic 73350 Version 3.0