News and Events

April 2004

Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury Research Programs Featured on TV

Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy Shows Promise in Stroke; Stimmaster Program Returns Patient to Walking

NmRRL members Dr. Stephen Page and Mr. Peter Levine were recently featured twice on Channel 12 News for their work in recovery of function in stroke and in spinal cord injury. The program on stroke featured results of their recently published study on modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT). mCIT is a reimbursable, outpatient 10 week therapy in which stroke patients are forced to use the affected limb 3 days/week during 1/2 hour sessions. When this regimen is combined with affected limb use in the home during the same 10-week period, Page and Levine, have shown that stroke patients realize almost complete motor recovery in the hand. With Dr. Jonathan Strayer of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Page and Levine are also investigating the efficacy of the stimmaster bicycle in improving and restoring walking in incomplete spinal cord injured patients. The bike electrically stimulates the legs of patients, inducing them to bicycle, and "re-teaching" the legs to fire in conjunction with the spinal cord. Strayer, Page, and Levine are currently engaged in a trial, described elsewhere on this web site, testing the stimmaster.