Scientists in Turkey have created a way for those paralyzed by spinal cord injuries to move around with much greater ease! AMS Mekatronic’s Tek Robotic Mobilization Device (RMD) looks a lot like a Segway. It offers paraplegic people a greater range of movement and versatility than the conventional wheelchair. In addition to the ability to move and function more independently, the RMD helps with exercise, blood pressure, and relief from pressure sores. This incredible invention has not made it to the U.S. so to take a look at more information on the RMD, click here.
Complete Paraplegia is reported by 22.1% of persons who have suffered serious spinal cord injury. Some studies show as much as 40.4% of spinal cord injuries are caused by vehicle crashes with falls as the second most prevalent cause of injuries. While advances in technology have helped reduce the instances of permanent spinal cord damage, less than 1% of persons with spinal cord damage experience a complete neurologic recovery by hospital discharge [1].
Although many patients may eventually be able to work again in the future, spinal cord injuries inhibit a person’s ability to work in the years immediately following the initial damage because of time needed for rehab, checkups, medical treatment, and pain management.
Since 2005, the average age at the time of injury is 40.7 years. At this age most Americans are still providing for their families, making plans for their children and for retirement. Should the unfortunate happen and your career be interrupted by a debilitating or disabling injury due to a car accident or fall, your plans can seem destroyed or delayed. Even for a person injured at age 50, the costs of living with some form of spinal cord injury can be over a million dollars in a lifetime.
Immediate recovery is the primary concern for those who have suffered any type of serious personal injury but it is important to have someone who is aware of the type of help you will need for future care related to your injury. If you are concerned about meeting the needs of your family and getting the medical care you deserve following a serious spinal cord injury, please call my office today to review the extent and nature of your injury.
1. Statistics based on information provided by The National SCI Statistical Center: https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/nscisc_home/pdf/Facts%202011%20Feb%20Final.pdf, last visited March 22, 2012/