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Health News Results - 53
Spinal Cord 'Wraparound' Device Could Help Treat Paralysis
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 9, 2024
- Full Page
A tiny, flexible device that wraps around the spinal cord could be a breakthrough in the treatment of spinal injuries.
The device, developed by a University of Cambridge team, can record 360-degree information and provide a complete picture of spinal cord activity, resea...
Spinal Cord Injury Damages Metabolism, and Scientists Now Know Why
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 29, 2024
- Full Page
Patients with a spinal cord injury frequently develop diabetes and heart health problems, and researchers now think they know why.
It appears that neuron activity following the injury causes...
Brain's Cerebellum Could Help Direct Prosthetic Limbs
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 16, 2024
- Full Page
Tapping the power of the small brain region called the cerebellum could improve patients’ ability to move cutting-edge robotic limbs, a new study suggests.
The cerebellum is an ancient structure located under the brain, just above where the spinal cord connects to the ...
Stem Cells From Patients' Fat Can Help Treat Spinal Cord Injuries
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 1, 2024
- Full Page
Stem cells derived from a patient's own fat can safely help improve sensation and movement after a spinal cord injury, a new, small study finds.
Patients treated with these stem cells experienced increased sensation from pinpricks and light touches, increased muscle stre...
Urinary Implant Helps Alert When Patients 'Gotta Go'
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 26, 2024
- Full Page
It's hard for some folks who suffer illness-related urinary incontinence to judge whether they'll be able to hold it until they get home, or if they should rush to a bathroom now.
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New Prosthetic Hand Can Sense Objects' Temperature
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 9, 2024
- Full Page
Fabrizio wasn't sure what to expect of his newly outfitted prosthetic hand, until he touched one of the researchers who'd given it to him.
“When one of the researchers placed the sensor on his own body, I could feel the warmth of another person with my phantom hand,”...
Spinal Cord Injury Triggers Muscle Wasting, Study Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 22, 2023
- Full Page
A spinal cord injury can trigger muscle wasting in patients, causing them to drop more weight and muscle mass than can be explained solely by their paralysis, a new study in mice warns.
This muscle wasting is rapid and severe, and it appears to be linked to a hormone imb...
Spinal Cord Stimulation Eases Pain, Boosts Function for People With Prosthetic Legs
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- December 15, 2023
- Full Page
People who've lost a leg due to injury or disease are often plagued by what's known as phantom limb pain -- discomfort arising in the area, despite the absence of the limb.
Now, researchers report that people who wear a prosthetic leg after amputation may have that pain ...
In Mice, Gene Therapy Helps Restore Movement After Spinal Cord Injury
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 27, 2023
- Full Page
Gene therapy has restored mobility in mice with completely severed spinal cords, researchers report.
The mice regained the ability to walk, with gait patterns resembling those of mice that resumed walking naturally after only partial cord injuries, the investigators foun...
Spinal Cord Injury Could Harm Immune System
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 5, 2023
- Full Page
A severe spinal cord injury is traumatic enough, but new research now shows that trauma can trigger an immune deficiency that puts patients at risk for developing life-threatening infections.
A new study from a team of international researchers sheds light on spinal cor...
You've Suffered Whiplash: Know the Symptoms & Treatments
- Ann Schreiber HealthDay Reporter
- June 22, 2023
- Full Page
Whiplash — an often underestimated injury that can strike in the aftermath of a collision — inflicts injury and pain on its unsuspecting victims.
If you find yourself grappling with the relentless effects of whiplash, you're not alone. Numerous legal websites estimat...
Getting Rid of Neck Pain: 6 Ways to Feel Better
- Ann Schreiber HealthDay Reporter
- June 21, 2023
- Full Page
The phrase "pain in the neck" is a tongue-in-cheek way to describe annoying situations or people that test our patience, but for those who experience genuine neck pain, it's no laughing matter.
Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that affects daily life and leaves ...
The Most Common Back Surgeries, Explained
- Ann Schreiber HealthDay Reporter
- June 21, 2023
- Full Page
Imagine a life where even the simplest movement becomes a painful endeavor.
Back pain, a pervasive ailment affecting millions, can turn daily routines into exhausting and painful challenges. Back surgery emerges as a potential solution when conventional treatments fall s...
Immune System Could Play Role in Spinal Cord Injury and Healing
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 30, 2023
- Full Page
Age blunts the immune system's ability to respond to spinal cord injuries, new animal research indicates.
But researchers working with mice also found that the membranes surrounding the spinal cord play a key role in the immune response to spinal cord injury, a dis...
Hi-Tech Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk More Naturally
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2023
- Full Page
A Dutch man with paralyzed legs can now stand and walk, thanks to a wireless brain-spine interface that responds to his thoughts by moving his legs.
Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, suffered a spinal cord injury 11 years ago from a bike accident in China that left him unable to walk....
Spinal Cord Injury Can Lead to Dangerously Low Blood Pressure, But New Implant Might Fix That
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 10, 2023
- Full Page
Dangerously low blood pressure is considered an “invisible” consequence of paralysis, adding to the woes of as many as 9 out of 10 people with spinal cord injuries.
Now, a new implant has been developed that treats the problem by delivering electrical stimulation to ...
Spinal Cord Stimulation May Ease Diabetic Neuropathy
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2023
- Full Page
Electrical stimulation from a spinal cord implant can provide long-lasting relief for people with diabetic neuropathy, updated clinical trial results show.
“Two years after starting with using that stimulator device, they're still having the same quality of improvement...
Spinal Cord Stimulation Gives Big Boost to Arm Function After Stroke
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- February 20, 2023
- Full Page
It's a brutal reality that confronts many recovering stroke patients: After six months or so of rehab, any arm and hand movement not yet restored is unlikely to return.
Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Brings New Freedom to People With Paralysis
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 18, 2022
- Full Page
A severely paralyzed person no longer needs to go through brain surgery to try and steer a motorized wheelchair with their mind, researchers report.
Through an electrode-studded cap placed on their head, several people with quadriplegia -- no function in all four limbs -...
Targeting Key Cells in Spinal Cord Got Paralyzed Patients Walking Again
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- November 9, 2022
- Full Page
In an advance in treating spinal cord injuries, researchers have pinpointed nerve cells that are key to allowing people with paralysis to walk again.
The findings come, in part, from nine patients involved in an ongoing Swiss study that is seeking to restore movemen...
Kids Getting Spinal Surgeries May Cut Back on Opioids
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 11, 2022
- Full Page
Spinal surgery is painful, but fewer addictive opioid painkillers are needed now to help kids and teens manage it, a new study finds.
A research team from Michigan Medicine found that scoliosis
Could an Experimental Cancer Drug Help Treat Spinal Injury?
- By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
- July 18, 2022
- Full Page
A drug in development as a cancer therapy may also help the body regenerate damaged nerves after spinal injuries, new research suggests.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom report that they used cell and animal models to show that the drug, d...
Injected 'Hydrogel' May Be New Option Against Back Pain
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 9, 2022
- Full Page
Like fixing a flat on the roadside, a new injectable hydrogel is showing promise as a remedy for worn-down spinal discs -- pumping them back up and relieving chronic back pain.
The gel, with the brand name Hydrafil...
In Animal Studies, Gene Therapy Shows Promise for Spinal Cord Injury Pain
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- May 13, 2022
- Full Page
An experimental gene therapy for spinal cord pain shows promise in mice, researchers say.
About half of spinal cord injury patients have neuropathy, which is chronic or debilitating pain, tingling, numbn...
Novel Injection Repairs Severe Spinal Cord Injuries in Mice
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 14, 2022
- Full Page
A brighter future could be in store for people with a spinal cord injury if new animal research pans out in humans.
Mice that were paralyzed due to severe spinal cord damage regained the ability to walk within four weeks of receiving an experimental injectable therapy, s...
New Technology Restores Movement After Spinal Cord Paralysis
- February 7, 2022
- Full Page
A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury.
That was in 2017.
But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day b...
Gun-Related Spinal Cord Injury in Childhood Brings Hardship Later
- Robert Preidt
- December 28, 2021
- Full Page
Spinal cord injuries in childhood are devastating no matter how they happen, but new research suggests that kids felled by gunshots are even worse off than those who suffer such an injury nonviolently.
Blood Pressure During Surgery May Be Crucial After Spinal Cord Injury
- Robert Preidt
- November 22, 2021
- Full Page
Tight blood pressure control -- not too high and not too low -- during surgery for spinal cord injuries may improve patients' outcomes, a new study suggests.
"Damage to neurons in spinal cord injuries leads to dysregulation of blood pressure, which in turn limits the sup...
FDA OKs Virtual Reality System to Ease Back Pain
- Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
- November 17, 2021
- Full Page
A 3-D virtual reality system to treat back pain was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday.
The EaseVRx system is a prescription device for at-home use that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and other behavioral methods to treat patients 18 and ...
Mouse Study Points to Possible Breakthrough Against Spinal Cord Injury
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 12, 2021
- Full Page
Severe spinal cord injuries are incurable today in humans, but a new injectable therapy that restored motion in laboratory mice could pave the way for healing paralyzed people.
The therapy -- liquid nanofibers that gel around the damaged spinal cord like a soothing ...
One Big Factor for Survival After Spinal Cord Injury: Resilience
- Cara Murez
- October 19, 2021
- Full Page
Survivors of spinal cord injuries who develop resilience are able to adapt and thrive despite the challenges, according to a researcher who himself is a resilient survivor.
"For someone with a cord injury, your margin for surviving even small mistakes when it comes to yo...
Could Electrode 'Pulses' Cut Back, Leg Pain Without Drugs?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 26, 2021
- Full Page
A new approach to spinal cord stimulation may drastically reduce chronic back pain, a small pilot study suggests.
The study, of 20 patients with stubborn low back pain, tested the effects of implanting electrodes near the spinal cord to stimulate it with "ultra-low" freq...
One Activity Causes 4 Out of 5 Sports-Linked Spinal Injuries
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 25, 2021
- Full Page
Football and other contact sports get a lot of attention for their injury hazards. But for most adults, bike riding is the biggest back-breaker, a new study suggests.
Of more than 12,000 sports-related spinal injuries among U.S. adults, researchers found that a full 81% ...
High-Tech Exoskeletons Improve Bowel Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury
- Robert Preidt
- July 23, 2021
- Full Page
Digestive issues are common after spinal cord injury and can lead to chronic constipation and incontinence. But robotic exoskeleton-assisted walking can improve matters in people with such injuries, researchers say.
In an earlier survey, more than a third of men with spi...
No Evidence Muscle Relaxants Can Ease Low Back Pain
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- July 9, 2021
- Full Page
Although tens of millions of Americans turn to muscle relaxants for lower back pain relief, a new Australian review finds little evidence that such drugs actually work.
That's the conclusion of a deep-dive into 31 prior investigations, which collectively enlisted more th...
Can Flotation Tanks Ease Chronic Pain?
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- May 26, 2021
- Full Page
As a means of providing long-term relief from chronic pain, flotation tanks simply don't hold water, new research reveals.
Nearly 100 people plagued by longstanding pain underwent "flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy" (REST), and the results were disap...
Shoulder Pain Can Plague Wheelchair Users, But Their Own Fat Cells Could Be Cure
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- May 26, 2021
- Full Page
People with spinal cord injuries can overwork their shoulders as they move about in a wheelchair, and that often leads to chronic shoulder pain.
However, a small study suggests that an injection of the patient's own fat cells can help ease the pain.
The injected ce...
Biggest Reason Teens Injure Their Spines: Not Wearing Seat Belts
- Robert Preidt
- May 20, 2021
- Full Page
Two-thirds of spinal fractures suffered by American children and teens occur in car crashes when they aren't wearing seat belts, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 34,500 U.S. patients younger than 18 who suffered spinal fractures between 2009 and ...
These Factors Could Lead to a Real Pain in the Neck
- Robert Preidt
- April 26, 2021
- Full Page
Neck pain? Poor posture can cause it, but may not be the only reason why, new research suggests.
Lifestyle is a key culprit -- particularly long periods of time spent hunched over handheld devices or working on computers. So a team at Texas A&M University set out to lear...
Drug Shows Promise Against Rare Condition That Stunts Kids' Growth
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- March 25, 2021
- Full Page
A new medication may offer hope to children with achondroplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that causes very short stature coupled with disproportionate limb and trunk size.
The experimental drug is called vosoritide. By tamping down overactive growth plate signaling th...
Stem Cell Injections Show Early Promise Against Spinal Cord Injuries
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2021
- Full Page
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating to the more than 17,000 Americans who suffer them each year. But many patients may have new reason for hope: Early research suggests infusions of stem cells could help them regain lost sensation and movement.
These improvements may...
Fetal Surgery Is Changing Lives for Kids With Spina Bifida
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- February 10, 2021
- Full Page
Spina bifida is a diagnosis no parents-to-be want to hear as they await their child's birth, and the idea of performing surgery on a baby while it is still in the womb can be terrifying. But new research shows that performing the delicate procedure before the baby is born, and...
Nerve Drug Might Curb Spinal Cord Damage, Mouse Study Suggests
- Robert Preidt
- February 1, 2021
- Full Page
The nerve pain drug gabapentin might reduce damage after a spinal cord injury, research in mice suggests.
The drug prevented harmful structural changes in injured spinal cords, as well as cardiovascular changes and immune suppression caused by spinal cord injury, accordi...
Brain May Age Faster After Spinal Cord Injury
- Cara Murez
- January 5, 2021
- Full Page
A new study supports the theory that people who suffer a spinal cord injury may also have accelerated brain aging that affects how fast they process information.
Those "cognitive deficits" are similar to those in older adults, according to research from the nonprofit Kes...
Simple Move May Boost Spinal Fusion Outcomes
- Alan Mozes
- November 25, 2020
- Full Page
A new approach that could revolutionize spinal fusion surgery does away with the need to "flip" patients from their back or side onto their stomach midway through the operation -- a switch researchers say dramatically improves outcomes.
The new technique -- dubbed Single...
AHA News: Strokes in the Spine Are Rare – But Dangerous
- May 26, 2020
- Full Page
Weighing in at about the same as when he graduated high school, Brian Muscarella, 62, eats a healthy diet and enjoys plenty of physical activity. Indeed, he has completed the New York City Marathon four times.
But at 53, Muscarella's life changed dramatically when he h...
What Works Best to Ease the Pain of Sciatica?
- Alan Mozes
- March 18, 2020
- Full Page
Surgery can cut pain intensity by more than half among patients struggling with long-term sciatica, researchers report.
"Sciatica is the symptom of pain that radiates down the leg and is caused by compression of a nerve root in the spinal canal by a disc herniation,"...
Doctors' Ratings Tank When Patients Are Kept Waiting: Study
- Robert Preidt
- February 28, 2020
- Full Page
Tick-tock: A long delay in the waiting room annoys some patients so much that they give their doctors lower ratings, a new study finds.
"Waiting to see the doctor is not like waiting in line for a fun ride at Disney World," said senior author Dr. Oren Gottfried, a pr...
Shovel That Snow, but Spare Your Back
- Kayla McKiski
- February 1, 2020
- Full Page
Almost everyone gets stuck shoveling snow at some point during the winter. To prevent back pain and strain, one spinal expert has some advice.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Srinivasu Kusuma, from the University of Chicago Medicine Medical Group, noted it's all in the precau...
Spinal Fusion Outcomes Worse for Black Patients, Large Study Finds
- Robert Preidt
- January 29, 2020
- Full Page
Black Americans who have lower spinal fusion surgery have more complications, spend more time in the hospital and have higher costs than white patients, new research shows.
For the study, the researchers analyzed the discharge records of nearly 268,000 patients in Ca...