We have all seen the headlines that state that conducted research could aid in altering the lives of millions of people in a positive and productive way. As a practitioner and/or clinician, you anticipate the release of this “ground-breaking” research so that you may positively impact the lives of your patients; however, the information seemingly never arrives.
The Director of the National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies, Dr. Jonathan R. Wolpaw, and a collaborator from the medical division of the University of South Carolina, Dr. Aiko Thompson are now going to deliver. Their research and creation will help patients who have suffered from a stroke and/or a spinal injury experience rapid recovery.
The Device – Spinal Reflex Conditioning
There are reflex-based abnormalities in people who have neurological disorders that result in a disruption in muscle control. Examples of illnesses and issues that cause these abnormalities include stroke, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, brain injuries, and multiple sclerosis.
Patients often experience a wide range of problems, such as painful and difficult movements, reflexes that are overaction, impaired walking, and motor function problems. Dr. Jonathan R. Wolpaw and Dr. Aiko Thompson have conducted a lifetime of research and developed a promising medical device that will aid in the plasticity of the spinal cord for individuals suffering from chronic-based neurological problems.
This specially-designed device is referred to as “Spinal Reflex Conditioning”. It is designed to target the pathways that aid in creating and controlling the reflexes of the body. Individuals that have been subjected to this new medical device have experienced numerous improvements in reflexes, walking, stepping, balance, reduced problems with spasticity, and have had to depend significantly less on devices that aid in mobility, function, and movement.
Current treatments include medication therapy and neuromotor retraining. While beneficial to some degree, these treatments lack in addressing the issue of abnormalities with the reflexes in the body; however, this new medical device addresses those abnormalities.
While this rehabilitation medical device is extremely promising, it has yet to hit the market. The creators have applied for a grant from the organization known as the “Center for Translation of Rehabilitation Engineering Advances and Technology”. As a practitioner and/or clinician, it is vital to support the funding and induction of this device – especially if you are part of the value-based networks that now abound throughout the nation. For more information on how to ensure value care for your patients, visit our blog today by clicking on the following link: https://coloradophysicaltherapynetwork.com/blog/
Resources:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/accelerating-recovery-from-stroke-and-spinal-cord-injuries_us_5a22e618e4b05072e8b56993
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579496/
http://treatcenter.org/
