Spinal cord stimulation restores movement for people with ‘muscle wasting’ disorder
People with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA), an inherited neuromuscular disease, usually experience muscle weakness that impacts movement.
New research suggests that electrical spinal cord stimulation could improve muscle function for these patients, even restoring the capability to walk.
In studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, sessions of spinal cord stimulation were shown to restore motor neuron activity and improve muscle strength in the legs for patients with SMA.
The findings were published in Nature Medicine on Feb. 5.
SPINAL CORD TREATMENT RESTORES FUNCTION FOR PARALYZED PATIENTS IN STUDY: ‘NEW HOPE’
«The patients all had a rare disease that destroys neurons in the spinal cord (much like polio) due to a genetic disorder from birth,» Dr. Peter Konrad, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in West Virginia, told Fox News Digital. (Konrad was not involved in the study.)
«The disease weakens the legs and ability to wa..