Almost 12 years ago, Jessie Owen life change forever

“My family dey go ova mountain pass and tree fall on our car, for dat moment, my parents die, my siblings get serious injury, and I bicom quadriplegic,” Owen talk.

“I lose my independence. I lose my job. I lose my apartment. I lose my autonomy and di life wey I dream for myself.”

Like Owen, more than 300,000 pipo dey live wit spinal cord injuries for di United States, wit an estimated 18,000 new cases each year, data show.

Motor vehicle accidents account for majority of spinal cord injuries and dey closely followed by falls, acts of violence and sports activities, according to di National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.

For years, options for recovery don dey limited, but newly FDA-cleared external spinal stimulator, ARC-EX Therapy, wey receive clearance on Dec. 19, fit offer hope for pipo like Owen.

“ARC-EX na simply electrodes wey dem attach to skin for back of di neck,” explain Chet Moritz, M.D., professor of rehabilitation medicine for di University of Washington.

“E allow us to pass current through di skin to activate di sensory nerves as dem enta di spinal cord.

Now, dose sensory nerves make direct connections to di motor nerves wey help pipo to move.”

Owen, wey participate for di Up-LIFT study, clinical trial wey focus on di health benefits of ARC-EX Therapy, see life-changing impact.

“I dey wildly surprised and pleased to see say e dey make meaningful change for my life.

I fit now paint wit my hands. I fit open jar of peanut butter. I fit tie my shoes.

E dey used to take me up to 30 minutes to take wear clothes. Now e take 12. I used to require 20 caregiving hours a week and I fit move down to about eight.”

Of di 60 patients wit cervical spinal cord injuries wey dem study, 72% see improvements for hand strength and function.

Participants also report fewer muscle spasms, beta sleep, less pain, and improved independence during daily activities.

“Di success of dis study of pipo wit spinal cord injuries dey phenomenal,” note Moritz.

“No current therapies dey for chronic spinal cord injury, and so having majority of patients respond in both strength and function measures is just outstanding result.”

Wit FDA approval, ARC-EX Therapy dey expected to bicom more accessible.

“Patients fit work wit dia local rehabilitation clinics to see therapist and work wit them for di clinic at first to tune di device,” Moritz talk.

Results fit appear quickly some participants notice changes within just few sessions, he add.

While di device dey currently cleared for improving hand strength, function and sensation, Moritz note odabenefits.”

Some pipo go get modest improvements for dia bladder function, heart rate, or blood pressure control.

“Leah Croll, M.D., vascular neurologist for Maimonides Health and assistant professor of neurology for SUNY Downstate, share di excitement ova di device.”

“Di idea say ARC-EX Therapy fit accelerate or augment neurologic recovery dey really exciting.”

“Any improvement for neurologic function dey meaningful and get far-reaching impact for di daily lives of these patients and dia families,” she talk.

Di road to recovery afta spinal cord injury dey grueling, Croll talk.

“Afta emergency and ICU care dey completed, di mainstay of treatment na to work closely wit physical therapists, occupational therapists and oda rehabilitation professionals to support neurologic recovery,” Croll talk.

“Patients fit also need medications and certain procedures, depending on dia unique symptoms.”

For Owen and odas, ARC-EX Therapy represent renewed sense of hope and exciting change for di way dis patients fit dey treated.

“Wit ARC-EX Therapy, I continue to gain function back, and I find say I fit pour more into oda pipo,” Owen talk.

“Di first indicator of success wey I notice na my own happiness. E work, and e give us hope and passion.”

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