Paralysed Individuals Walk Again After Having an Electrical Implant Fitted

After having an electrical patch fitted and going through months of intense rehabilitation, three patients who have all been paralysed from the waist down have been able to walk again. Specifically, the patch that sits upon the spinal chord allows weak or lost signals travelling from the brain to the legs to be aided. So although the tech doesn’t repair the damaged area, it does allow the signals to bypass it meaning that they do end up reaching the leg muscles to an extent.

The 23-year-old patient named Kelly Thomas is one of two participants who has been aided by the miraculous technology at the University of Louisville, she herself states that: “Being a participant in this study truly changed my life, as it has provided me with a hope that I didn’t think was possible after my car accident.” Adding “The first day I took steps on my own was an emotional milestone in my recovery that I’ll never forget, as one minute I was walking with the trainer’s assistance and while they stopped, I continued walking on my own. It’s amazing what the human body can accomplish with help from research and technology.”

However, Dr Kendall Lee, the Neurosurgeon who co-led the team from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said: “It’s very exciting, but still very early in the research stage.” So who knows what this tech could possibly allow in the near future, I guess we will just have to wait and see.