Paralysed Man Walks Again
You’ve probably heard the adage that “there’s no such thing as a spine replacement surgery”. And while that still holds true, there have been CRAZY advancements in this field. No, these advancements are not for anybody who has chronic pain, but instead is for those who are suffering from motor function loss (meaning their muscles don’t receive signals to move as they should).
Researchers have been studying how technology can be used to target spinal nerve roots. Recently, there has been a huge breakthrough in the medical world with the use of electrical implants. This has led to three paralyzed patients being able to walk and regain mobility in arm, legs, and other body parts.
So how does this work?
Nerves in the spinal cord send signals from the brain to the legs. When the spine is damaged, these signals are too weak to create movement. The implant sends electrical pulses to the muscles, mimicking the actions of the brain, which enhances the signal, allowing the patient to walk.
Patients control these movements using a software on a tablet; the tablet connects to a pacemaker-like device which then sends signals to the electrical implant. The patient is able to use the tablet to issue certain instructions such as standing, walking, cycling, or kicking the legs for things like swimming.
Michel Roccati was in a motorbike accident in 2017, where he severed his spinal cord, causing a complete loss of feeling and movement in his legs. The implanted electrodes allowed Roccati to reactivate his muscles with electrical stimulation controlled from a tablet. Roccati used the device as part of his routine training and rehabilitation, which is now part of his daily life.
Prior to the accident, Roccati was very active and loved boxing, running, and fitness training. He was determined to be able to do the things he loved again, which was a huge factor in the progress that he made.
There is still significant research that needs to be done to determine the sustainability of the device. Professor Grégoire Courtine, who led the team who developed this technology stated “This is not a cure for spinal cord injury. But it is a critical step to improve people’s quality of life. We are going to empower people. We are going to give them the ability to stand, to take some steps. It is not enough, but it is a significant improvement.” Although this is not a cure, this creates hope for so many people that have sustained devastating injuries to the spinal cord.
While accidents happen and cause lasting spinal issues, there is a lot that can be done to maintain spinal flexibility and mobility. It is never too early or late to see what chiropractic can do for you. If you live in Boise, Idaho or surrounding areas, reach out and see what chiropractic can do for your chronic or acute pains. There is hope and we can help you find the best course of action – even if that means that chiropractic isn’t the answer. If you’re not in our area, reach out to us and we will help you find a quality chiro.