None — Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the communications conduit between the brain and the rest of the body. Nerve damage along an area of the spinal cord disrupts communications to and from the area below the point of injury. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, a patient maintains some level of sensory and/or motor function in the area below the damage. In a complete spinal cord injury, motor and sensory functions in the affected area of the body are totally lost.
According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, about 1,275,000 Americans are living with some degree of spinal cord injury. The National Spinal Cord Injury Association estimates 7,800 new cases occur every year. The most common causes include motor vehicle accidents, work accidents, violence, falls, and sports/recreational activities. Roughly 82 percent of victims are male. Median age at the time of injury is 26.
To Walk Again
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation reports spinal cord injury is the second leading cause of paralysis in the U.S. (after stroke). Many are unable to walk and require a wheelchair.
Researchers are now fine-tuning a new type of device designed to get some people with spinal cord injuries back "on their feet." It's called the ReWalk™ Exoskeleton. ReWalk is a wearable robotic suit composed of leg braces, motors, sensors, wireless wrist keypad, back support and a computer. The leg braces are attached to the body with VELCRO® fasteners. The back support and backpack with computer are strapped to the upper body.
To use ReWalk, a seated user presses a button on the keypad. That signals the motors in the suit to engage, pulling the person into a standing position. Crutches must be used to maintain balance. Once standing, the person leans forward to walk. The sensors on the suit detect the forward lean and trigger the motors to lift and bend the legs, just as if the wearer was really walking. To stop walking, the wearer simply returns the upper body into a straight position. ReWalk can even be used to climb stairs.
Andy Packel, P.T., Physical Therapist with MossRehab in Elkins Park, PA, says ReWalk is ideal for people who are unable to walk but still have good use of their upper arms. It takes some practice to learn how to use the device and patients need to relearn how to balance their bodies (because they lack sensory input from the legs). In addition to the psychological boost from being able to walk, Packel says the suit provides physical benefits. Walking (even though assisted) provides some form of cardiovascular exercise and may reduce some of the health complications associated with immobility, like loss of bone density, pressure sores and digestive problems.
ReWalk is not yet approved for sale by the FDA. Currently, MossRehab is the only clinical study site in the U.S. Larger studies are planned in the future.
For information about the ReWalk™ Exoskeleton, click here.
For information about spinal cord injuries:
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Spinal Cord Injury Association
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