NEUROPROSTHETIC DEVICES FOR ENHANCING MOTOR RECOVERY POST-SPINAL CORD INJURY: A REHABILITATION STUDY

Abstract

This paper reports the application of neuroprosthetic devices in the determination of their efficacy in the motor rehabilitation of the spinal cord injury (SCI).  The study was directed to assess the impact of the devices on motor skills development and the overall result of the rehabilitation.  In assuming a research methodology that entails the use of randomized control trial, an individual who had a variety of spinal cord injuries was fitted with the use of neuroprosthetic devices that were expected to trigger the regeneration of the neurons and restoration of the motor functions.  The standardized measures of muscular strength, joint mobility and voluntary motor control was measured in the study as an indicator of motor recovery.  Considerable improvements were recorded in the experimental group particularly in muscular coordination and functional mobility compared to the control group.  The neurophysiological data showed increased activity of neurons and improvement of the synaptic balance between the circuits in the spinal cord.  The results show that neuroprosthetic implants have great potential in enhancing motor recovery of spinal cord injured patients and this has got promising future implications of spinal cord rehabilitation treatment.  However, further studies that have larger sample sizes and long durations of follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.