Christopher Reeve’s Doctor Creates Exercise Bike Aiding Paralyzed

posted on May 10 by Admin in the Advocacy, Cerebral Palsy, Disability News, Health, Healthcare, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Paralysis Cures, Spinal Cord Injury, Technology, Traumatic Brain Injury category

Dr. John McDonald spread hope at the first Missouri Cures Education Foundation in Columbia this past April. McDonald is well known for his work with Christopher Reeve, an actor best known for his role as Superman. Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after a horse riding accident in 1995.

McDonald created an innovative exercise bike — the RT300 — that uses small electrical pulses (also known as functional electrical stimulation, or FES) to stimulate muscles to exercise that otherwise wouldn’t be able to function. With McDonald’s treatment before Reeve’s death in 2004 from cardiac failure, Reeve had regained much of his normal sensation and was able to operate the exercise bike without electrical stimulation. This success catapulted McDonald as a pioneer in rehabilitative medicine.

McDonald has seen similar recoveries in other patients using activity as the main focus in their rehabilitation. With slow progress in stem cell research, McDonald’s methods offer a step in the right direction towards recovery. McDonald states “most people who have severe injuries are capable of recovery with what they have left.”

Attendants at the event left inspired in their own recoveries including Mike Fredholm of Kansas City who is an incomplete quadriplegic that has limited movement in his arms. He stated he left the presentation “a little optimistic.” Fredholm has used a power wheelchair since a car crash 18 years ago.

Sherline Romph also gained a renewed optimism for her 7 year old daughter’s recovery. Previously she had driven 20 hours round trip to have her daughter work out on McDonald’s bike. After a setback with a skin sore, Romph could not use the bike although she saw some improvement with the ability to move a thumb and sometimes even kick a ball. After McDonald’s presentation, Romph said she was ready to have her daughter get back on the bike.

McDonald’s activity-based therapy is aimed at getting the body to move, reducing things like skin wounds and infections that make recovery longer and less likely. With success stories like that of Christopher Reeve who was completely immobile from the neck down for 5 years after his accident, McDonald continues to gain popularity among those that have limited to no mobility. For more information, see the Restorative Therapies company wesite: http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

Source:

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/apr/08/superman-doctor-gives-hope-on-paralysis/

http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

Photos:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11103352/ns/health-health_care/t/electrical-stimulation-gives-hope-paralyzed/

http://www.rimrehab.org/?id=201&sid=3

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/apr/08/superman-doctor-gives-hope-on-paralysis/