28 days ago
Medscape
For the first time, researchers have used electrical stimulation of the cervical spinal cord to immediately restore arm and hand movement in two patients with chronic moderate-to-severe upper limb paresis. Stroke can disrupt communication between the brain and the spinal cord, leading to motor deficits in the arm and hand. Spinal cord stimulation has shown promise in promoting long-lasting recovery of leg motor function in patients with spinal cord injury; but until now, it's been largely unexplored for upper-limb recovery. In both patients, continuous stimulation of the targeted neural circuits led to significant and immediate improvement in arm and hand strength and dexterity. This enabled the patients to perform movements that they couldn't perform without spinal cord stimulation.
Continue reading...
