Revolutionary Spinal Implant Restores Mobility for Parkinson's Patients

A man with Parkinson's disease, who had difficulty walking and was confined to his home, has regained his mobility thanks to a spinal implant. The device stimulates his leg muscles with electrical impulses, allowing him to climb stairs, go shopping, and walk independently for almost four miles. The implant works by stimulating weakened sensory fibers in the legs, bypassing the region of the brain affected by Parkinson's. While the treatment is still in the early stages of development, researchers are hopeful that it could provide a new therapy for mobility problems in Parkinson's patients. Further testing will be conducted in the next 18 months.