Paralysis can be one of the most devastating effects of a stroke, and it often renders people unable to work and earn a living. Scientists have announced that they are working on a brain-training device that may help persons who have suffered paralysis after a stroke move their frozen limbs again.
The device involves a brain-computer interface that can actually help persons move their paralyzed limbs using electrical stimulation of the affected muscles. According to the researchers, they have tested the device on at least eight patients. All of these patients had lost movement in one hand after a stroke. After the using the device they reported that they were able to perform several routine tasks in a much more improved manner.
All of the patients went through six weeks of therapy using the thought device. After the training they were able to perform routine activities like buttoning a shirt, which they were unable to do earlier.
What is really encouraging about this device is that it can be used in patients who have suffered a stroke and left paralyzed several months or even years before. Some of the patients in the study, for instance, had suffered a stroke several months earlier. The amount of time that had passed since the stroke does not seem diminish the effectiveness of the device.
Stroke is considered a major cause of adult long-term disability, and although close to 50% of all stroke survivors will regain functional independence, as many as 30% remain permanently disabled after the stroke. These disabilities can include paralysis, limited movement, sensory impairment, language problems and memory problems. These impairments often meet the eligibility conditions for Social Security disability benefits.
M. Stanley Whitehead is a Houston Social Security disability benefits lawyer, committed to representing persons who have had their disability claims rejected, and helping them recover the benefits that are rightfully theirs.
