Spinal stimulation technology helps paralysed man recover leg movement

Scientists have utilised innovative electrical stimulation technology to help a paralysed man to recover a certain amount of leg movement.

A team from the Mayo Clinic has used a combination of physical therapy and spinal stimulation to help the individual – who was without movement and feeling below the midriff for three years – to move his legs, stand and make steplike motions.

Following 22 weeks of physical therapy, an electrode was implanted in the epidural space near the spinal cord below the injured area, which was connected to a computer-controlled device under the skin in the patient's abdomen to sends electrical current to the spinal cord.

This marks the first time a patient has been able to intentionally control previously paralysed functions within the first two weeks of stimulation, and indicates that people with discomplete spinal cord injuries may be candidates for epidural stimulation therapy.

Neurosurgeon Dr Kendall Lee, principal investigator and director of Mayo Clinic's Neural Engineering Laboratory, said: "We're really excited, because our results went beyond our expectations. These are initial findings, but the patient is continuing to make progress."

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