Paralyzed man can stand again after experimental treatment - TomoNews
- 6 years ago
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY — A man paralyzed following a serious motorcycle injury has regained the ability to stand and move his legs after receiving an experimental epidural treatment.
Andrew Meas was paralyzed from the chest down after his spine was broken at the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae in a accident nearly 10 years ago, Newsweek reported.
Meas has spent four years in physical rehabilitation, but has also been receiving an experimental treatment called spinal cord epidural stimulation (scES) from a research team at the University of Louisville, Quartz reported.
The device sends electrical signals to motor neurons telling them to move.
Meas was one of four patients to receive the implant. At the end of the study, Meas was able to move his legs, stand on both feet or one foot entirely on his own. The other three patients did regain some leg movement, but not to the degree Meas experienced.
The results from the study, published in the Oct. 26 Scientific Reports, show that the nervous system may be more resilient than previously thought.
Andrew Meas was paralyzed from the chest down after his spine was broken at the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae in a accident nearly 10 years ago, Newsweek reported.
Meas has spent four years in physical rehabilitation, but has also been receiving an experimental treatment called spinal cord epidural stimulation (scES) from a research team at the University of Louisville, Quartz reported.
The device sends electrical signals to motor neurons telling them to move.
Meas was one of four patients to receive the implant. At the end of the study, Meas was able to move his legs, stand on both feet or one foot entirely on his own. The other three patients did regain some leg movement, but not to the degree Meas experienced.
The results from the study, published in the Oct. 26 Scientific Reports, show that the nervous system may be more resilient than previously thought.