The most devastating of all sports injuries involves the spinal cord. These injuries sever the nerves in the spinal cord, separating the brain from the nerves that control the muscles of the arms and legs.
Until recently, efforts on the behalf of those with spinal cord injuries were directed to physical and occupational therapy to obtain neuromuscular function, to provide adaptive equipment and to teach adaptive skills.
Recent research has demonstrated remarkable gains in the ability to promote re-growth and connecting nerves throughout the spinal cord. Techniques include functional electrical stimulation to prevent muscle atrophy; substances such as growth inhibitor blockers to overcome the body's resistance to spinal cord regeneration; and molecular biology to help regenerate nerve tissue. Ultra-modern electric grids on the surface of the brain are being tested to translate nerve signals coding thoughts of movement into electrical impulses that will instruct.
Gifts make a meaningful difference. KSF continues to support promising research and rehabilitation treatment to improve function, provide independence and quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries.
In 2007, festival contributions supported:
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation-The Translational Research Fund supports studies of nerve growth and connectivity in the spinal cord to bridge aregion of injury to reconnect the brain with muscles. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis-The first ever human clinical trial that employs a combination of cell transplantation and anti-inflammatory medication that protects the regenerating nerve cells in the spinal cord.
The BrainGate Project at Brown University-Neuroscientists, electrical engineers, and computer scientists under the direction of Professor John Donoghue are working together to translate the brains thoughts into electrical impulses that instruct muscles to perform complex activities bypassing areas of spinal cord injury.
The National Transplant and Catastrophic Injury Fund- (NTAF)-Contributions to NTAF help off-set the many expenses associated with spinal cord injury patients.
KSF MAKES A DIFFERENCE