Daily Archives: July 30, 2015

In a study conducted at UCLA, five men who had been completely paralyzed were able to move their legs in a rhythmic motion thanks to a new, noninvasive procedure that stimulates the spinal cord. It is believed to be the first time voluntary leg movements have ever been relearned in completely paralyzed patients without surgery. The results are reported in the Journal of Neurotrauma. "These findings tell us we have to look at spinal cord injury in a new way," said V. Reggie Edgerton, senior author of the research and a UCLA distinguished professor of integrative biology and physiology, neurobiology and neurosurgery.

Spinal cord stimulation is nothing new, but a new study suggests that maybe we have been approaching it the wrong way; or rather, that maybe we have more to learn about it. But, in case you don’t know, spinal cord stimulation is a type of pain management which involves placing an implant under the skin which delivers electric pulses to the torso or the limbs to relieve chronic pain. Typically, spinal cord stimulation involves delivering low-frequency waves (40 to 60 Hz) but a new study says that, perhaps, high-frequency (up to 10,000 Hz) might be better in some cases.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —The University of Louisville and Frazier Rehab unveiled new equipment Thursday that's giving hope to children who are paralyzed. It's paving the way for mobility for one little boy who was told, from birth, he would never walk, stand or sit up on his own.