Researchers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science have shown that noninvasive spinal stimulation can help people with chronic spinal cord injury regain stepping movements. The system links signals from the hands to stimulation of the lumbar spine. When participants performed rhythmic hand grips, those signals were converted into pulses that activated spinal circuits controlling the legs.
Ten individuals with paraplegia took part in the study. Over repeated sessions, they demonstrated improvements in voluntary control of stepping. The technology bypasses damaged pathways between the brain and spinal cord without requiring surgery or implants, using external magnetic stimulation instead.
The findings confirm that closed‑loop spinal stimulation can restore movement in humans with long‑standing paralysis. For patients, it offers hope of regaining independence without invasive procedures. For clinicians, it adds a new tool to complement rehabilitation and expand recovery options.
