A woman who was paralysed as a result of an illness has described how “everybody cried” when she was able to take her first steps following a pioneering treatment.Claire Trivedi received a type of spinal cord stimulation during a small clinical trial which enabled her to take a few steps using a walker.The 48-year-old from London was paralysed from the waist down in 2017 when a group of abnormal blood vessels in her spinal cord burst.The mother of two is one of 10 spinal cord injury patients who took part in a study assessing new stimulation technology.While taking part in the trial, she was able to restore some functions which were initially thought to be lost after her injury.The technology has been described as a “hearing aid for the nervous system” and works by stimulating the “dormant” spine below the patient’s injury, combined with “activity-based therapy”.Experts said the results of the small pilot study were “game changing”.And Spinal Research chairwoman Tara Stewart said the study suggests “it’s now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable”.Ten people aged between 21 and 68 with different levels of spinal cord injuries took part in the study, which has been published in the journal Neuromodulation: Technology At Neural Interface.All participants in the Pathfinder 2 trial, funded by Spinal Research, made significant improvements in their upper body strength, trunk control and balance.And some saw major gains in hand grip and dexterity and lower body functions after using Onward Medical’s ARC-EX Therapy combined with rehabilitation.Patients took part in the study for more than a year at Neurokinex rehabilitation facilities in the UK and each had 120 sessions where they were given transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation.The technology delivers electrical pulses through the skin to stimulate the spinal cord which means that signals weakened or interrupted by a spinal cord injury can drive movement.It is coupled with intensive physical therapy, tailored to each patient.Some of those who took part in the trial saw bodily function return a decade after injury or illness.Researchers said that the improvements did not plateau, which suggests further benefits may be achieved with extended treatment.Ms Trivedi said: “I was told my injury was complete and I just had to get used to my situation, but I refused to give up.“I dreamed that one day I might take a few steps and my dream came true.We are seeing recovery in participants who are over 10 years post injury, and they’re regaining function that they never thought possible.
In the 21st century, we are all migrants
In the 21st century, we are all migrants Humans are in motion across time as well as geography.Why must we be divided, the migrant versus the native? August 2019issue of National Geographic magazine. All of us are descended from migrants.Our species, Homo sapiens, did not evolve in Lahore, where I […]
