As a spinal cord injury charity, SPIRIT welcomes the BBC news story about Ian Burkhart.
Ian, from Ohio in the USA, was 24 when he sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) in a diving accident. He was rendered a tetraplegic with complete paralysis in his lower limbs and only very limited movement in his arms.
Ian has received treatment to implant a microchip in his brain. The chip reads his brain signals which are then interpreted by a computer which stimulates his muscles with electricity to restore function.
This is very positive news and illustrates how advances in technology and medicine can assist those individuals who are affected by spinal cord injury or other causes of paralysis.
Approximately 1,000 people every year in the UK sustain spinal cord injury which will leave them with some degree of paralysis.
SPIRIT supports all research into SCI that is being carried out around the world and which will improve the independence of those affected by spinal cord injury.
If you would like to learn more about the work of SPIRIT, please look around our website or email us.
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