Paraplegia News and Research

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Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. It is usually the result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida which affects the neural elements of the spinal canal.

Study demonstrates new stimulation therapy for motor rehabilitation in spinal cord injuries

The simultaneous stimulation of the motor nerves of the brain and limbs (paired associative stimulation) has yielded promising research results. Research conducted at the BioMag Laboratory, operated by the University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital and Aalto University, has previously demonstrated that simultaneous transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain and electrical stimulation of the limb nerves constitute a useful method of motor rehabilitation in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.

17 Aug 2020

New approach shows promise for treating shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

Researchers in regenerative rehabilitation conducted a pilot study of a new approach to the treatment of treatment-resistant shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) and rotator cuff disease.

29 Jul 2020

The biggest database for automated gait analysis

The database comprises information on the so-called "ground reaction force" which is the force between the foot and the ground that is generated during movement. It is an important standard parameter used in clinical practice and in research.

30 Jun 2020

Study pinpoints electrophysiological mechanism behind upper motor neuron disease

Scientists from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Belgrade have pinpointed the electrophysiological mechanism behind upper motor neuron disease, unlocking the door to potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

21 May 2020

Study: Most uncommon infections and major vascular events are likely to be misdiagnosed

New research provides estimates of diagnostic error and serious misdiagnosis-related harm rates for each of the five most frequently misdiagnosed major vascular events, infections, and cancers in the U.S.

15 May 2020

Clinical trial evaluates effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with overactive bladder

Keck Medicine of USC urologists are launching a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with an overactive bladder due to neurological conditions, such as a spinal cord injury or stroke, and idiopathic (unknown) causes.

10 Mar 2020

Scientists discover gene mutation involved in paraplegia and epilepsy

Researchers have made an important discovery that could help scientists understand the cause of paraplegia and epilepsy.

1 Nov 2019

3D printer could help expedite repair or replace damaged tissues for injured warfighters

The ability to 3D print a variety of healthcare-related products in deployment zones would greatly benefit the nation's warfighters.

4 Oct 2019

Using 3D nanoparticle printing to fabricate ultra-high density neural probes

Carnegie Mellon University's Rahul Panat, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Eric Yttri, an assistant professor of biological sciences, have received a $1.95 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to use a low-cost, rapid additive manufacturing method to create a new class of high-density neural probes to record neurological data.

29 Aug 2019

Discovery could pave the way towards new treatments for neurological disorders

Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered a new process that sets the fastest molecular motor on its marathon-like runs through our neurons.

16 Jul 2019

New insights into molecular motors could help treat neurological disorders

Nerve cells form the basis of the nervous system in animals, as they transfer information between the various sensory and effector organs of the body and the brain and spinal cord. However, this function relies heavily on the transport of several proteins and other molecules between various parts of the cell.

15 Jul 2019

Schwann cells induce self-repair of damaged nerves

Researchers from Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and at the Swiss University of Fribourg have now found that the Schwann cells and axons may be behind this regeneration process.

11 Jul 2019

Broader monitoring of patients needed to reduce post-hospitalization UTIs

Broader monitoring of patients is needed to reduce the number of people who develop a urinary tract infection after being discharged from the hospital, new research by Oregon State University suggests.

26 Jun 2019

Non-invasive brain-machine interface helps chronic paraplegics to regain their walking ability

In another major clinical breakthrough of the Walk Again Project, a non-profit international consortium aimed at developing new neuro-rehabilitation protocols, technologies and therapies for spinal cord injury, two patients with paraplegia regained the ability to walk with minimal assistance, through the employment of a fully non-invasive brain-machine interface that does not require the use of any invasive spinal cord surgical procedure.

14 May 2019

Specific cognitive deficits found in individuals with spinal cord injury

A multidisciplinary team of researchers has identified specific cognitive deficits in individuals with spinal cord injury. Their findings support the theory of accelerated aging after SCI, and have important implications for further research.

21 Jan 2019

Professor Magdalena Götz wins 2018 IRP Schellenberg Research Prize

Every two years, the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia awards the IRP Schellenberg Research Prize endowed with a prize money of 100,000 CHF.

27 Sep 2018

Hope for paraplegics in the horizon

According to a new study from the University of Louisville, four paraplegics have found hope. Paraplegia is complete paralysis of the lower limbs due to damage or injury to the spinal cord. The team of researchers have published their success story in a study in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

26 Sep 2018

Study reveals way to regrow lost spinal cord connections

For many years, researchers have thought that the scar that forms after a spinal cord injury actively prevents damaged neurons from regrowing.

30 Aug 2018

Study evaluates relative importance of specific functional abilities after traumatic spinal cord injury

Independence in mobility is the single most important factor affecting quality of life in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, reports a study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.