Monday 20 February 2023

Spinal cord stimulation shown to instantly improve arm mobility after stroke

Introduction Neuroscience has developed leaps and bounds in recent times, and as a result, breakthroughs have been made in the treatment of paralysis due to stroke. Drawing on the collective expertise of University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University researchers, a neurotechnology has been developed to stimulate the spinal cord, proving to be a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of stroke patients. This technology has been reported in Nature Medicine and is set to lead the way in enabling people who were affected by moderate to severe stroke to regain their arm and hand mobility and go about their daily lives more easily. What is stroke and its effect? Stroke is a medical condition caused by an interruption in the blood flow to a certain area of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells in that area. This can lead to paralysis in the body due to temporary or permanent damage to the nerves, leading to loss of muscle control, movement, and coordination. It often affects the ability of a person to grab and hold objects, making daily activities a challenge. How does the neurotechnology work? The neurotechnology developed by University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University is uniquely designed to communicate with the spinal cord. It generates signals that activate the nerves in the spinal cord immediately, leading to enhanced mobility in the limbs that had been affected due to stroke. This device works by stimulating the spinal cord through an array of electrodes that are placed on the skin surface of the affected area. Those electrodes then send signals to specific points of the spinal cord, which activates the nerves and aids in restoring movement. Benefits of the neurotechnology The neurotechnology has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of stroke victims. It immediately improves the mobility of the arm and hand and helps enable patients to perform their daily activities more easily. It can also aid in the regaining of motor skills that have been lost due to stroke. Comparatively, existing treatments for stroke require months of physical therapy and rehabilitation before the patient can regain their motor functions and mobility of the affected limbs. This technology can help in reducing the time taken for recovery and enable the patient to regain their movement more quickly. Conclusion The development of this neurotechnology by researchers of University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University to help regain arm and hand mobility is truly a breakthrough in the medical world. It has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of stroke patients and enable them to quickly regain lost motor control and movement. This technology is a major step towards the betterment of lives of those affected by stroke.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-medical-news/spinal-cord-stimulation-shown-to-instantly-improve-arm-mobility-after-stroke

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