Paralysis recovery in humans and model systems.
Considerable evidence now demonstrates that extensive functional and anatomical reorganization following spinal cord injury occurs in centers of the brain that have some input into spinal motor pools. This is very encouraging, given the accumulating evidence that new connections formed across spinal lesions may not be initially functionally useful. The second area of advancement in the field of paralysis recovery is in the development of effective interventions to counter axonal growth inhibition. A third area of significant progress is the development of robotic devices to quantify the performance level of motor tasks following spinal cord injury and to 'teach' the spinal cord to step and stand. Advances are being made with robotic devices for mice, rats and humans.
Edgerton
V Reggie
VR
Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles Brain Research Institute, 695 Charles E Young Drive, South Los Angeles 90095-1761, USA. vre@ucla.edu
Roy
Roland R
RR
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D012371:Robotics / Q000639:trends; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors