Emerging Experimental Approaches

Researchers and scientists are always looking for ways to innovate and to better treat SCI. New approaches can come from studies on high-performance athletes, animals, or biological material (e.g., stem cell therapy). Specifically, greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying locomotor pattern generation, neuroplasticity, and motor recovery has led to the development of new experimental approaches for improving locomotor function following spinal cord injury. However, until there are enough studies testing an intervention with an adequately large sample size, it is difficult to determine if an approach should be recommended or not. In this section, we highlight some newer research on walking in people with SCI as “emerging experimental approaches.”