Kent: Paralysed man regains movement in breakthrough trial
A Kent man paralysed from the waist down has partially regained bowel and bladder control thanks to breakthrough UK research.Dan Woodall, from Rainham, was paralysed in 2016 after falling from a bypass after a night out.The 33-year-old was one of 10 people to take part in a recent Pathfinder2 trial, funded by charity Spinal Research, using electrical stimulation to "excite" the spinal cord and attempt to create movement."[The trial] gave me back control over muscle groups I never thought I'd move again, including my right hamstrings and hip flexors," he said.
"I've also regained some bowel and bladder control - something I was told in hospital after my accident might never happen."Just knowing when you want to use the toilet is such a massive thing for your independence and mental health."The fact that the gains have continued after the trial is really encouraging and I can't wait to see where this goes."The participants took part in 120 sessions using the technology - known as ARC-EX therapy.All saw significant improvements in upper body strength, torso control and balance, according to Spinal Research.Spinal Research chairwoman Tara Stewart said: "This therapy is not a silver bullet."It works on spared spinal tissue so results will vary widely and it does need to be paired with proper active rehabilitation over a consistent period of time."Even so, this is a game changing moment. It's now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable and to stop telling people with this injury that nothing can be done."The peer-reviewed study has been published in Neuromodulation: Technology at Neural Interface.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Courier
2 days ago
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: NHS Tayside records more than 1,200 data breaches in five years
NHS Tayside logged more than 1,200 data breaches in five years as the health board comes under fire again for poor handling of patient records, The Courier can reveal. The full number follows a series of high profile leaks which angered patients and staff. Former patient Alan Ogilvie, who obtained the new figures through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, said it is 'one symptom of a deeper failure'. He said: 'The lack of accountability utterly erodes any shred of trust patients could have. 'How can patients ever trust NHS Tayside with their most sensitive information?' Mr Ogilvie was among 132 victims of disgraced ex-Dundee doctor Sam Eljamel who received an apology in January after their personal details were leaked. Last year, The Courier detailed seven separate data breaches which spanned a two-year period. In August 2023, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing sensitive information about NHS Tayside staff was shared in error with another team. Just weeks later paperwork for hundreds of patients were missing. Perthshire woman Amanda Flood has now been victim to three data breaches. On two occasions a health board employee snooped on her personal files, while last October she received a letter saying her details had mistakenly been sent to a patient. In February 2024, NHS workers lost documents with personal details about primary-one pupils in Broughty Ferry. And in December last year Tayside chiefs launched an internal review after the data of 125 patients was released by mistake. The new details show 381 errors were flagged internally in 2023-24, by far the highest total across an eight-year period. There were 272 breaches in 2022-23, after 246 were logged in 2021-22. Between 2019 and 2024, 33 of these were deemed serious enough to be sent on to Scotland's Information Commissioner. The figures also show 13% of staff currently working at the heart board are yet to complete mandatory training for handling data. Meanwhile, NHS Tayside said 14,165 staff were up to date with data courses as of March this year – which leaves 1,800 staff lagging behind. In June 2019, 69% of staff were compliant with the compulsory data training. NHS Tayside notes new data protection laws – GDPR – came into force in May 2018, and says this 'will have impacted on the reporting and compliance figures'. Mr Ogilvie's Freedom of Information request found the total number of data breaches since 2016. The Eljamel patient previously won a complaint against NHS Tayside after waiting more than four months when he asked for the health board to hand over his personal data. 'It's frankly astonishing that a former patient like myself has had to make formal complaints and conduct a detailed FOI investigation,' he said. 'This is a stark revelation of systemic ignorance and a profound failure of governance.' An NHS Tayside spokesperson said information security is taken very seriously. 'All staff are required to undertake mandatory training in safe information handling and NHS Tayside has a suite of information governance policies for staff to follow, including a data protection policy,' the spokesperson said. 'Currently the majority, 87%, of NHS Tayside staff have completed the safe information handling training. 'All NHS Tayside staff are actively encouraged to report data breaches, no matter how small, through the Datix incident reporting system. 'All breaches of data protection are recorded and investigated within NHS Tayside and, where appropriate, are reported to the Information Commissioner's Office. 'A learning review is ongoing to evaluate systems and processes currently in place and identify actions to further improve data security across NHS Tayside.'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Keep praying' – Ben Askren's wife shares update with ex-UFC star fighting for his life in hospital
The 44-year-old was reportedly "unresponsive" in the hospital HEALTH BATTLE 'Keep praying' – Ben Askren's wife shares update with ex-UFC star fighting for his life in hospital Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEN ASKREN's wife has given a fresh update on the former MMA world champion's condition following his hospitalisation. The 44-year-old was hospitalised last week after coming down with a severe case of pneumonia, which was brought on by a staph infection. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren was hospitalised last week Credit: GETTY 4 Askren is suffering from severe pneumonia stemming from a staph infection Credit: AP 4 Asken's wife, Amy, has asked for continued prayers for the 44-year-old Credit: GETTY Askren was in a critical condition and "unresponsive" according to a heartbreaking social media post from his wife, Amy. And she's urged her loved ones and fight fans to continue praying for her husband in her latest Facebook post. She wrote: 'Feeling so incredibly thankful for our friends and community. 'It's times like this that remind you how truly blessed you are. 'I feel God moving through the love and support we have received. "I'm sorry if I haven't had the chance to respond to you, but know I've seen your messages, and each one has meant so much to me. 'Please keep praying for Ben.' The MMA community were quick to send their well-wishes to Askren after learning of his hospitalisation. 4 Ben Askren retired from mixed martial arts in November 2019 Credit: GETTY Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo wrote on X: "Pray for Ben Askren." Ex-middleweight king Chris Weidman said: "Prayers out to Ben Askren and his family!!" Ben Askren says he will not be back again after knockout loss to Jake Paul Lightweight star Terrance McKinney said: "Prayers for Ben Askren." Dillon Danis wrote: "Heard the news before it hit the media about Ben Askren. "It's a lot more serious than people think. No matter how bad our beef might've been, he's a great coach and a family man. "Praying he pulls through this." Askren announced his retirement from MMA in 2019 after just over a year in the UFC, where he won three of his fights in the promotion. He ended his combat sports retirement in April 2021 for a crossover clash with Jake Paul, who knocked him out in the first round of their Covid clash.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Six East Dunbartonshire businesses win Eat Safe Awards
Antonine House Care Home, Bearsden, The Broadcroft Hotel, Kirkintilloch, Cleddens Early Years Centre, Bishopbriggs, Lillyburn Care Home, Milton of Campsie, Milngavie Manor Care Home, and Thomas Muir Primary School, Bishopbriggs, were each presented with the prestigious Eat Safe Award. The East Dunbartonshire Council said in a Facebook post that the accolade is given only to establishments that exceed the legal requirements for food hygiene standards. Read more: Viral Glasgow food stall 'expecting' and set to open exciting new restaurant Pensioner hit bin man with his car during road rage incident Ex-Scots footballer reveals plans to open Italian restaurant in Glasgow The council's environmental health team decides the winners after carrying out their programmed food law inspections. Councillor Paul Ferretti, convener of the place, neighbourhood and corporate assets committee, said: "It was great to meet the recipients of the Eat Safe Award, and to celebrate their hard work and effort. "They have strived and succeeded in ensuring that food hygiene and food safety standards exceed those required by law - benefitting them and customers alike. "Congratulations to all six establishments - I hope others in East Dunbartonshire will follow their example."
