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Electrical device helps paraplegies 'walk' a littie Hy Paige Debergo A system that will enable paraplegics to stand and walk short distances by electricýally simuiilatinig their leg mnuscle.ýs is being develIoped and tested by researchers at the University of Aiberta. Pie technique, called 'functional le!ctrical stimulation, (FES), la desigýned to hel p pe-ople otherwv'ise confiniedIo wheelchairs ff it Mbon d muLscle deterioration casdby their lack of mobility. Dr. Dejan Popovic, who has been with the progran since il started in 1987, says that there is a process of the remodelling of bonies which occuxa in al of us; while we are walking and standing -- ujsing our muscles -- we are losing part of our bote md regaining il againi. In paralysed people this process doesn't exi-Ls,vli wat we're trying to do la provide ativity of muscles by standing amd wfMigu Ingmscles." Thie research team regularly measures the bone denisity mnd leg gýirth of children pariiangnth prograni, as well as checking for signis of skin irritation. So far, al the resuits have been positive; since beginning treatiment the children's legs have filled out and their bones appear to be>- stronger. Hwvr only four children have beeýn inivolved in the study mnd Popovic cautions that with such a smnall group of participants the mieasuremecnts cannot lie cnnsiderLd statisticaily significant. He adds that the long-tenu effects of electrical stimulation are not yet known. The FES device itself consists of three componients: electrodes placed strategically on the legs, a battery- operaied conîtrol box abot thle size of a portable cassette player, and a switch svstem t o tum thIle box on mnd off, xlicis iý,usuajlly ttached to cruitches. Wires connect fihe three copnns 5 that whe1n the swýitch la tumed on ant lectrical charge is sent through fromn the box to the electrodes, stim-ulating thlegs Weare flot ïying to give faise hopeXs to people," says Popovie. "This la sonmhing which cmt assLat people ini whelchairs and add to their quality of i fe, but it w'ill flot replace wheelchlairs th fla is flot a miiracle." Peop)Ile cannot relean' 0 walk using the sysicem, or e-en walk long distances, hie adds. Lt, is meant primnarily' for use at home, I0 enable paraplegics to do things ýwhich are easier if they cmn stand or walk brieflv -- reaching to a cupboard, moving front one chair to aniother, gtting imto a car, etc. The usera still require additional support; of the 12 adts amd four childreni now uising the system, some use crtches ivith it mnd others use walkers. How much they cmr achieve with thie systemi depends on the nature mnd seriouisness o)f the injury that paralyzed them mad how long, ago it happenied, Popovic says. Muises are coninected to bonie by tendons. Wbien people move, either by desire or by reflex action, an electricai signai is sent out from tihe brain, passing throuigh the spinal cord and then througýh neres to the muscles which contract. "ThMere is a speific point where a nerve, which is cal led a motor neuron, enters the msl, says Popovic. "That motor neuron la connected te, the spinal cord and the spinal cord is 'connlcted-ý with the brain. So whLat we do is put ,eLectro-des either on the skin or thrtough a very tiny stainless steel wire close I0 the niotor poiýnt or direcly inito the nerve. and with a weil controlled electrical impulse, iitfiate the same contraction." Electrodes have been succes,,sfully implamted in adults, but Popovic says they are not suitable for children, becaýuse as children grow the location of the miotor neuron moves, making the lectrode ineffective. The next phase of the research involves refining the FES apparatus so that radio signais can be uised, eliminating the need for extemal wires. Thie possibility of replacing switches with. a more sophlticated, comiputerized system la also being covsidered. Popovie expeets 10 continue working on the project in Alberta for several months each year unitil 1994. This project is a continuation of his work ai the University of Belgrade in iLs native Yuigoslavia. Thie FES prograro ai the University of Alberta la being funded by the Alberta Heritage Founidation for Mledical Researchi, the Mledical Research Council of Canada, flhe Nothiem ,Alberta Children's Hlospital Foundation and the Northem Alberta Spinal Cord lnjury, Treatment Socieýty. (Can,.iadian Science News Pa±,rticularly a problem for students.... Minor head injuries can cause Iearning problems By Cyvia Dyni A recent study suggests tbat mild bead injuries cmn resuit in brain damage. Among students, Iis is tum can seriously affect academic performance. T'Me researchers recommend that students and other people egaged in sports wear appropriate beluets or head protection. They also say that il may be necessary to belp reorganize the ptograis amd study habits of students who have suffered sucb injuries. A group of psychologissand student healtIs experts a Queens University bave compiled a report describing the implications of head injury in unversity students. It documents thse fact that, following a mîild head injury, individuels may suf fer from reduced attention span and impairments of concentration and memory. These probleis uàually last no longer ibmn six montbs. However, in thse meantime, a student's ability 10 study effectively, complete assigrnments and perform well on examss la impaired. This jeopardizes thse student's academic performance. Stuidets who have incurred head injuries often fail to recognize they have suffered amy brain damage at ail, the researchers say. These students may notice difficulties with some mental processes, but do not attribute the difficulties to their injuries. Instead, "students have an emotional response to their impaired facilities.," says Dr. James McShenry, Queens Univeriîy Student Hecalth Service d irector, professor of Medicine and Psychology and one of the authors of thse report. For example, they may feel depressed or mnxious and the brain damage is o4ten not discovered until they seek coanselling for these problerms. Students who engage in sports are more susceptible to bead injuries and associated brain damage. The extent of the injury need not be severe 10 result in brain damage. In f act, some people who incur ordinary whiplash, without being knocked unconscious, may suf fer minimal brain damage. To prevent head injuies, the authors encourage students involved in sporting activities to, wear helmets. This is especially important in bicycling. which is thse leading cause of head injuries. The authors stress that it's important for students who do suifer head injury te0 be identified promptly and offered the appropriate trealment. Suggested treatinent consists initially of psychological and neuropsychologîcal tests 10 determine which skils are impaired. Once this la determined, counisellors suggest tricks to deal with the impairments. "It la necessar to determine the new attention span mnd reorganize activities within Ibis spmn. t nay now be necessary for a student to take more notes, use coloured ink or study out- loud in order 10 improve ,mensoy,". says Mcsherry. McSherry also says itLslaimrtrant thiat faculty be mnade aware of the pr-oblem. -Aswe, professors could evaluate students with these You can lose a lot more than your licence y diinkingýnd drving~ SMrtisry of Ille Attorne oaoGeneral impairrnents differently. Radier than assigning essays to test students, faculty could give them simpler exercises --. such as defining teins -- which are more suited to their limited abilities. Allyson Harrison, a Leamning Disability Specialist at Queen's Student Counselling Services, says most Ontario universities are now developing academic measures to accomodate students with such injuries, in addition to appropriate counselling for them. (Canadian Science News) Lawn Control you can depend on - Weed Spraying - Crab Grass - Fertilizing - Insect Spraying - PIug Coraeration Program available for the season. 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