What role does the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) play?

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) is primarily known for developing a standardized system for classifying the severity of spinal cord injuries, which is critical for effective diagnosis and treatment planning. This classification system helps healthcare providers communicate more effectively about spinal cord injuries and ensures that patients receive appropriate care based on the level and completeness of their injuries. By standardizing how injuries are assessed, ASIA facilitates research, improves patient management, and enhances the overall understanding of spinal cord injuries across the medical field.

While psychological support, surgical techniques, and regulation of surgical practices are all important components of care and treatment in spinal injuries, these areas fall outside the core mission of ASIA, which focuses on the classification and standardized assessment of spinal cord injuries.