Neuroscientists from the EU and the US have focused on spinal cord stimulation techniques for the rehabilitation of paralyzed patients.
According to the journal Nature Medicine, it is a non-invasive system that helped partially restore limb control to 60 victims with cervical spinal cord injury.
“Our experiments showed that the device we created and the therapy based on it was safe and effective for 72% of the trial participants. It not only improved patients' hand strength and control over hand movements, but also significantly improved their sensitivity to touch and pressure,” said the developers.
At the same time, the frequency of muscle spasms decreased and the quality of sleep improved.
The group of scientists was led by Professor Gregoire Courtenay of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne. The method consists in the impact on the affected areas of the body electrodes that are connected to a computer. The latter gives a command to supply electrical impulses and stimulation of the spinal cord.
Volunteers were 60 people who underwent 24 sessions of therapy. In 72% of patients, control over hand motor skills improved. In the future, this technique will allow to rehabilitate patients with long-standing spinal cord injuries.
Earlier it became known that the doctor named ways to significantly improve brain function.