Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology used epidural electrical stimulation to help those paralyzed regain some of their movement. A man is back on his feet after an electrical implant. (Photo via Swiss Federal Institute)
An amazing new study by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology may be a huge breakthrough for helping those who are paralyzed walk again. In the study, three wheelchair-bound men were able to regain movement after they were implanted with electrical stimulators that helped to compensate for the damage to their spinal cords in a treatment called epidural electrical stimulation.
The spinal cord is an essential part of our body because it carries a message from the brain to other parts of the body, telling it when to move our limbs and feel things like pressure or temperature along with controlling vital functions. If the spinal cord is damaged, the neural signals can’t get through and will leave the person paralyzed.
To remedy the issue, researchers used electrical implants to cover the fap in the spinal cord and help carry the messages from the brain across the damaged area into a non-damaged part of the spinal cord lower down. Researchers found the effects of the treatment to last even after the electrical signals stopped. They report that “all of the participants retained some improvement in muscle movement even after the stimulation therapy.”
The results show the stimulation wasn’t just moving the muscles itself. Rather, it relied on subjects attempting to move their limbs. The treatment doesn’t take control over the leg, the patients are putting in the work. According to the study, the movement was almost natural to the subjects after two days. Within a week, they were able to walk with limited assistance.
A treatment that gives paralyzed patients the ability to walk is amazing, but researchers warn the treatment isn’t ready to roll out to the masses. The treatment is still in the early stages and may not work for everyone. It’s also important to keep in mind that the experiment was done with a small sample size and those involved retained some level of function below their injuries even if it wasn’t enough to walk themselves.
More and more studies using epidural electrical stimulation are being conducted, and all show promising results. Back in September, a study showed a man who had been paralyzed since 2013 regained his ability to stand and walk with assistance thanks to spinal cord stimulation and physical therapy. It’s clear the treatment needs to be studied more, but with the results so far, it changes the way we think about people with paralysis.
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