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Jul 20, 2009 11:43 am US/Central
Wireless Device Helps Local MS Patients Walk
By Arezow Doost
PLANO (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
For Dwight Riskey, walking can be a challenge. "I have to tilt my hip and swing my hip so my toe doesn't hit the ground," he said.
"I used to love all sorts of sports," Riskey continued. "I had to give most of those up. Even golf."
About 20 years ago, the 59-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after gradually noticing that his right leg was getting weaker. He would fall regularly while walking, and started using a cane. "Eventually, you find yourself not wanting to go to a baseball game because it's too far of walk," Riskey said.
The Plano man started attending to physical therapy at UT Southwestern Medical Center. But in January, Riskey was introduced to a wireless device for patients with neurological damage. And now, he's walking again, without falling.
It is called the
Bioness L-300. The wireless device sends electronic signals to stimulate the nerve, turning on Riskey's muscles as he takes each step. "It's got little sticky electros," Riskey said. "This thing receives a signal from a little switch in my shoe."
"The first time I put this on, I cried," said Riskey.
UT Southwestern Medical Center has about a dozen patients currently using the Bioness L-300. "They're able to regain their life back, take control of their life, do the activities that they couldn't do before," said physical therapist Charlotte Morrison.
Now, Riskey can ride a bike, and he eventually hopes to run again. "Already, I know it has caused me to fall 50 times less than I normally would," he said.
The
Bioness L-300 costs about $6,200. In Riskey's case, insurance helped pay for a portion of the cost.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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