In support of the claim of the body’s self-healing capacity

In a surprising development, research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology shows that a combination of the human body’s astounding capacity to heal itself and modern-medicine neurological stimuli may bring new hope for future rehabilitation in humans with severe spinal cord injuries.

This photo provided by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) on May 31, 2012, shows a researcher observing a rat walking on its hind legs during an experiment at the Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute in Ecublens. Rats with spinal cord injuries and severe paralysis are now walking thanks to researchers lead by Professor Gregoire Courtine at EPFL. Published in the June 1, 2012 issue of ‘Science’ magazine, the results show that a severed section of the spinal cord can make a comeback when its own innate intelligence and regenerative capacity is awakened. According to Gregoire Courtine, it is yet unclear if similar rehabilitation techniques could work for humans, but the observed nerve growth hints at new methods for treating paralysis.