The man who is unidentified, is the first person to show how the technology can provide hope for the future of paralysed citizens who want to be able to walk again.
“The work does offer exciting promise,” said Randy Trumbower, an assistant professor in the department of rehabilitation medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, who was not involved with the research. That said, it “must overcome several hurdles before it may be applicable to a broad population of persons with spinal cord injury,” he added.
An Do and Zoran Nenadic, authors at the University of California, are still unsure how the system will work amongst the larger population of paralysed people, according to their report published on September 23rd in the Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation.
The experimental technology is more appropriate for patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries to their upper to lower-middle backs and who don’t have other major problems.
Before the 26 year old man could actually try the system, he had to undergo a muscle reconditioning program to restrengthen the muscles in his legs.
Check out the inspiring video below:
