Jeremy
02-26-2003, 05:28 PM
New Twist To Rehabilitation
Study results vary
Feb 26/2003
The goal of almost any patient with a spinal cord injury is to walk again. Many rely on braces, walkers or canes with varying degrees of success but researchers at the University of Florida are studying a different kind of rehabilitation.
In the past two years, 61-year old Paul Schauble has re-learned how to walk, twice.
A partial spinal cord injury left him with virtually no feeling from his lower torso down. First, traditional physical therapy got him moving.
Paul says, "I was getting around but it was very awkward. I had adjusted to what I had to do to get up and move but it, it, I looked a lot like my year-and-a half-old granddaughter."
Then, as part of a study, Paul learned a second strategy for walking.
Supported by a body weight harness, he steps on a treadmill while trainers help him get the body positions that most closely resemble normal walking.
Neuro-rehabilitation specialist Andrea Behrman says, "What we're trying to do here is provide the spinal cord with a very clear picture of walking; a very focused picture. And what we're trying to do is feed that spinal cord sensory information about walking."
Paul learned to walk using his spinal cord more than his brain.
Dr. Behrman says, "The signals from the brain, down, may be damaged but the signal from the legs, back to the spinal cord, back to the legs is still intact. And if you can use that information, that circuitry, to generate a pattern of walking, you can retrain walking."
While some in the study didn't respond as well, Paul is now more mobile than ever, "in fact," he says, "around the office or around my home I, I don't use a cane. I can get around without it."
Dr. Behrman says this research may one day lead to new rehabilitation strategies.
The studies are funded, in part, by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Study results vary
Feb 26/2003
The goal of almost any patient with a spinal cord injury is to walk again. Many rely on braces, walkers or canes with varying degrees of success but researchers at the University of Florida are studying a different kind of rehabilitation.
In the past two years, 61-year old Paul Schauble has re-learned how to walk, twice.
A partial spinal cord injury left him with virtually no feeling from his lower torso down. First, traditional physical therapy got him moving.
Paul says, "I was getting around but it was very awkward. I had adjusted to what I had to do to get up and move but it, it, I looked a lot like my year-and-a half-old granddaughter."
Then, as part of a study, Paul learned a second strategy for walking.
Supported by a body weight harness, he steps on a treadmill while trainers help him get the body positions that most closely resemble normal walking.
Neuro-rehabilitation specialist Andrea Behrman says, "What we're trying to do here is provide the spinal cord with a very clear picture of walking; a very focused picture. And what we're trying to do is feed that spinal cord sensory information about walking."
Paul learned to walk using his spinal cord more than his brain.
Dr. Behrman says, "The signals from the brain, down, may be damaged but the signal from the legs, back to the spinal cord, back to the legs is still intact. And if you can use that information, that circuitry, to generate a pattern of walking, you can retrain walking."
While some in the study didn't respond as well, Paul is now more mobile than ever, "in fact," he says, "around the office or around my home I, I don't use a cane. I can get around without it."
Dr. Behrman says this research may one day lead to new rehabilitation strategies.
The studies are funded, in part, by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.