Swiss researchers improve therapy for paralysed patients

Lausanne researchers improve therapy for paralysed patients Keystone-SDA

Using a combination of rehabilitation robots and an implant in the spinal cord, researchers from Lausanne have developed a new device that enables people with spinal cord injuries to walk again.

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According to a study published on Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics, the device showed good results in the first five patients.

In order to regain certain movements after a spinal cord injury, limbs are moved mechanically with rehabilitation robots in therapies.

However, the effectiveness of this therapy is limited due to the lack of active muscle use, explained the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in a press release.

The device, developed by researchers from the Neurorestore research centre at EPFL, the University of Lausanne and Lausanne University Hospital, sends electrical impulses to stimulate the muscles in line with the robot-controlled movements.

This improved the patients’ mobility and promoted their recovery.

Translated from German with DeepL/mga

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