The most severe types of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are those that affect the cervical spine because they often can result in quadriplegia, or paralysis of the body below the injury site. As a result, the SCI survivor has little to no mobility, which can lead to a number of increased health risks. A respiratory impairment that results from high cervical spine injuries is characterized by low lung volumes and weakness in respiratory muscles and decreased ability to cough.

Depending on the severity of the injury and location of its damage in the spinal cord, respiratory functions can be impacted to the point that a person’s ability to breathe, cough, or swallow on their own is impeded, and the use of a ventilator may be required. Additionally, SCI survivors are more prone to developing respiratory infections, which can have severe complications.