Zapping spinal cord injuries helps restore hand strength and movement
Applying electrical stimulation via pads at the site of the spinal cord injury caused lasting improvements in people’s ability to use their hands
By Clare Wilson
20 May 2024
The device that delivers electrical stimulation to the spinal cord via pads on the skin
ONWARD Medical N.V.
A treatment for spinal cord injuries has helped more than two-thirds of those who tried it improve their hand and arm function.
The therapy consists of electrode pads placed on the skin above and below the injury site. They deliver electrical stimulation to the spinal cord while the user does rehabilitation exercises.
This improves function during the stimulation by boosting the excitability of the remaining nerves. Over time, people gain lasting improvements even when they aren’t using the device. It seems to work by causing nerves in the spine to regrow and make new connections, says Grégoire Courtine at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Geneva.
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“Everyone thinks that with spinal injury, all you want is to be able to walk again,” says Melanie Reid, a participant in the trial. “What matters most is working hands. Tiny gains can be life-changing.”
The approach is only suitable for people whose spine hasn’t been completely crushed or severed, as there need to be intact parts of the spinal cord remaining to let new nerves grow, although this applies to more than two-thirds of people with spine injuries.
