A proven concept for SCI? Micro implants could restore standing and walking

Vivian Mushahwar has dedicated two decades of her life to this pioneering research.

Ever get the feeling that researchers working to come up with so-called cures for those with a spinal cord injury are just messin’ around with you? There have been numerous research studies reported just over the past three years that have raised quite a few eyebrows and now, you can add the work of Canadian researcher, Vivian Mushahwar to that list. Thanks to an electrical spinal implant pioneered in her laboratory and work in mapping the spinal cord, the dream of standing and walking could become a reality in this decade.

According to Vivian, because an injured spinal cord dies back, it’s not simply a matter of reconnecting a cable. Three herculean feats are needed. You have to translate brain signals. You have to figure out and control the spinal cord. And you have got to get the two sides talking again.  People tend to think the brain does all the thinking, but Vivian says the spinal cord has built-in intelligence. A complex chain of motor and sensory networks regulate everything from breathing to bowels, while the brain stem’s contribution is basically “go!” and “faster!” Your spinal cord isn’t just moving muscles, it’s giving you your natural gait.

Interested in reading further about this approach? Click HERE.