Frequently asked questions

And our answers

Here are some of the most common questions we’re asked.
If you still have a query, please contact us.

There’s a list of some of the words and phrases
used on the site in our Glossary.

Does Wings for Life provide rehabilitation or care to people directly affected by spinal cord injury

The goal of Wings for Life is to cure spinal cord injury. READ MORE...

Why support Wings for Life, when there is also publically-funded research?

Wings for Life does not receive any government funding so we rely entirely upon private donations. READ MORE...

How much of my donation is used for the good cause?

All administrative costs are covered by the the Red Bull Company. 100% of your donation goes to spinal cord research.

Are Wings for Life ambassadors and representatives being paid?

No, our ambassadors and representatives are working in an voluntary capacity.

What is a spinal cord injury?

Spinal cord injury is the consequence of a traumatic or ischemic event, which results in damage to cells within the spinal cord or a severance of the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord. READ MORE...

What are the consequences of a spinal cord injury?

Severe SCI often causes paralysis (loss of control of movements and muscles of the body) and loss of sensation and reflex function below the point of injury, including autonomic activity and other activities such as bowel and bladder control. READ MORE...

What are the treatments?

While recent advances in emergency care and rehabilitation allow many SCI patients to survive, interventions to reduce the extent of injury in order to restore functions have not yet reached a clinical process. READ MORE...

Is there a cure for spinal cord injury?

There is no cure yet, but current research proves that spinal cord repair and regeneration is possible. More and more scientists around the world are confident that a putative cure for paralysis in humans could be as close as ten to twenty years away.

What research is being done?

Research on trauma-related central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as SCI, focuses on deeper scientific understanding of how changes in molecules, cells and their complex interactions determine the outcome of SCI. READ MORE...

What is epidural stimulation?

Epidural stimulation is the application of a continuous electrical current to the lower part of the spinal cord. READ MORE...

What is paralysis?

Paralysis is an impairment or loss of movement and / or sensation, which is caused by impaired neuronal impulse conduction in the nervous system.

What is meant by the terms "complete" and "incomplete" injuries?

Complete injuries result in a total loss of sensation and function below the injury level (classified as ASIA A), whereas incomplete injuries result in partial loss (classified as ASIA B-D). READ MORE...

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