Too often people hear these words, “I’m sorry but you have a spinal cord injury. You’re paralyzed and you are probably never going to walk again.” It’s a life changing reality for the one who experiences the spinal cord injury as well as his or her family. So, what is a spinal cord injury? Is there a cure? Will I walk again? What’s next? These are only a few of the many questions they will probably have. 
Where do you find answers? You start with Understanding Spinal Cord Injury – a two-part factsheet series from the Models Systems Knowledge Translation Center. In part one, you learn about the spinal cord, what it is, what it does, and how damage to the spinal cord affects the body. In part two, you learn about what to expect in recovery, and how to get the most out of rehabilitation. 
Visit MSKTC.org/SCI and get answers from experts who conduct innovative and high-quality research, provide patient care, and work to improve the health and overall quality of life for people with spinal cord injury. That’s MSKTC.org/SCI.

Understanding SCI

Effects of Spinal Pattern Generators (SPGs) on Walking Speed and Rhythmic Muscle Activations.
Podcast generated by NotebookLM on SPG research.
This research explores the role of the spinal cord in generating walking patterns in humans. The researchers hypothesize that spinal pattern generators (SPGs) in the spinal cord are responsible for adapting to changing motor demands, such as walking at different speeds. To test this, they created a neural network model mimicking the SPG and used it to predict muscle activity based on sensory inputs like loading and hip angles. They found that the model successfully produced realistic muscle activation patterns during different walking speeds, implying that the spinal cord can indeed adapt to varying demands without direct input from the brain. However, during “silly walks” – intentional deviations from normal walking – the model’s performance was less accurate, suggesting that higher brain control might be involved in more complex movement variations. Overall, this study provides evidence for the adaptive capacity of the spinal cord in generating walking patterns, highlighting the complex interplay between sensory feedback and neural circuits in achieving coordinated locomotion.

SPG NotebookLM Podcast

Created by the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), MSKTC Radio features free research-based information to support individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and burn injury. MSKTC is a federally-funded center that produces factsheets, videos, narrated slideshows, infocomics, and other resources in SCI, TBI and burn. All resources are based on the work of Model System Center researchers and available research evidence. To learn more, visit https://msktc.org/. 

This information is not meant to replace the advice of a medical professional. You should consult your health care provider regarding specific medical concerns or treatment. The contents of this channel were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0082). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this channel do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

New tracks tagged #spinal cord