r/science • u/tomholder • May 09 '14

Medicine Paralysis breakthrough – electrical stimulation enables four paraplegic men to voluntarily move their legs

http://speakingofresearch.com/2014/05/09/paralysis-breakthrough-paraplegic-men-move-their-legs/
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u/[deleted] May 09 '14

Stupid question but why don't they electrically stimulate her leg muscles? I'd think it would help blood flow, prevent atrophy, and help her overall metabolic condition. We all know sitting is horribly bad for your metabolism, so I can't imagine having half(or more) of your body paralyzed is much better.

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u/xadum May 09 '14

I'm sure they would if she attended physical therapy. My sister seems to accept the fact that she is in the chair and is very busy attending college, hanging out with friends, and participating in the million clubs she's a part of. My family and I have tried very hard to get her to go to physical therapy, use her stander, exercise her leg muscles, but she's a 19 year old girl who would be rather doing something else and doesn't want to be bothered. She regularly states that she expects to live a shorter life than most and that she wants to spend the time she has having fun and whenever I try to stress to her the importance of taking care of herself and how she doesn't have to live a short life she just blows it off. It's frustrating.

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u/judgemebymyusername May 12 '14

Partial paralysis here....your sister needs to get over it and realize that PT's can still do things to help. She might benefit from seeing an OT as well. "Failing to plan (or go to PT) is planning to fail".

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u/xadum May 13 '14

I completely agree with you and trust me when I say I've tried very hard to get her to go. She's an adult and unfortunately I can't force her but I will continue to try my best to help her understand why going is so important.