Paralysed man stands and takes steps

A US man who was paralysed from the chest down is now able to stand and walk with the help of a treadmill, following a pioneering procedure.

The 25 year old man, Rob Summers from Oregon, was left paralysed with some residual feeling in his legs after a hit and run car accident in July 2006.

A team of American scientists surgically implanted 16 electrodes into the base of his spine, which were then connected to an electrical stimulator. This procedure allows electrical pulses to reach the spinal cord, mimicking the signals it would normally receive from the brain.

Mr Summers had also previously undergone an intensive muscle training regime.

Within days Mr Summers was able to stand up without help, for four minutes at a time. Now he is able to move his toes, ankles, knees and hips on command. With the help of a harness, he is able to make stepping motions on a treadmill. He has also regained some sexual and bladder function.

Mr Summers said: “This procedure has completely changed my life. For someone who for four years was unable to even move a toe, to have the freedom and ability to stand on my own is the most amazing feeling.

"To be able to pick up my foot and step down again was unbelievable, but beyond all of that my sense of well-being has changed. My physique and muscle tone has improved greatly, so much that most people don’t even believe I am paralysed.

"I believe that epidural stimulation will get me out of this chair."

Writing in the Lancet journal, the scientists involved in the study cautioned that the procedure has only been tried on one physically strong person to date. Mr Summers was a keen sportsman before the accident.

Professor Susan Harkema at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Research Centre, Louisville who led the study said: “This is a breakthrough. It opens up a huge opportunity to improve the daily functioning of these individuals... but we have a long road ahead.”

This article was published on Fri 20 May 2011