An idea has become reality for children with spinal cord injuryResearchers at the University of Louisville’s Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (KSCIRC) and clinicians at Frazier Rehab Institute use ‘locomotor training’, a therapy designed to access the ‘smart’ spinal cord, even below the injury in paralyzed children to help them recover the ability to sit, stand, and in some instances, even walk again. The spinal cord, much like the brain, is a sophisticated network of neurons that can receive and synthesize information and make movement decisions. This team has been able to achieve results in children with spinal cord injury that have not historically happened, as far as rehabilitation outcomes. Now Dr. Behrman of KSCIRC and the team of pediatric physical therapists have a new tool – a treadmill and body weight support system designed specifically for children with neurological problems to help them recover through ‘locomotor training’.
Engineering this equipment for children has made it more effective to provide locomotor training for children and allowed children to participate more easily, both readily advancing outcomes for children. Power NeuroRecovery is distributing the new pediatric equipment: treadmill with body weight support and harnesses for use in therapy facilities nationwide.
Watch the video and see the groundbreaking invention in operation. |
The Kosair Charities Center for Pediatric NeuroRecovery Recovery-Based Therapies: Clinical Program Pediatric NeuroRecovery Research |
Dr. Behrman teamed with Dr. Tommy Roussel, a University of Louisville Bioengineering Professor, with funding from the Coulter Translational Partnership, designed and developed a specialized treadmill and harness system to meet not only the needs of children age 18 months to 12 years receiving the therapy, but also the adults delivering the intervention. Key features include: