As a spinal cord injury charity, SPIRIT welcomes the progress made by the Walk Again Project in Brazil to generate function in paralysed muscles after spinal cord injury.
Scientists developed the Walk Again Project, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, thinking that they could enable paraplegics to move about using the exoskeleton controlled by their thoughts.
But they were surprised to discover that during the training, the eight patients all started to regain the sense of touch and movement below the injury to their spine.
Read more about their discovery here.
SPIRIT is delighted to learn of the research that continues in this area in the hope that one day people who sustain paralysis through spinal cord injury will recover.
SPIRIT trustee, Jonathan Fogerty said on hearing the news:
“This is very positive news and I’m pleased to hear about it. However we have to be cautious. Despite the significant advances that have been made, we are not at the stage where we can call this is a ‘cure’ for spinal cord injury. Until a cure for spinal cord injury is found, it is important that all patients with a spinal cord injury in the UK are properly rehabilitated in a specialist spinal injury centre so that each can achieve their maximum potential post injury.”
It is also vital that the spinal cord injury charities in the UK, such as the Spinal Injuries Association, Aspire, Spinal Research and the Back Up Trust continue to provide their important support services.
If you would like to learn more about the work of SPIRIT, please look around our website or email us.