A new non-invasive spinal cord stimulation technique allowed five subjects with complete motor paralysis to generate voluntary leg movements.
The technology, called transcutaneous stimulation, delivers electrical currents to the spinal cord via electrodes places on the skin of the lower back. Spinal cord stimulation previously enabled four paralyzed subjects to produce voluntary movements, however this latest trial is the first to use non-invasive technology.
During the trial, the four men were able to generate step-like movements while their legs were suspended in braces hanging from the ceiling to free them of the resistance from gravity. While body movement in this environment is not comparable to walking, the results are a huge step forward for research for victims of spinal cord injury.
“These encouraging results provide continued evidence that spinal cord injury may no longer mean a life-long sentence of paralysis and support the need for more research,” said Roderic Pettigrew, PhD, MD, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at NIH. “The potential to offer a life-changing therapy to patients without requiring surgery would be a major advance; it could greatly expand the number of individuals who might benefit from spinal stimulation. It’s a wonderful example of the power that comes from combining advances in basic biological research with technological innovation.”
