* photographs  © Michaela Greene

Exoskeletons for SCI: A Feasibility Study Where do bionic suits fit in rehabilitating and living with spinal cord injury? In partnership with the National Spinal Injuries Centre, we are now recruiting volunteers to participate in a study evaluating the role of exoskeletons for people with chronic SCI. Exoskeletons offer users the ability to stand from a seated  position, to sit down, walk, and to ascend and descend stairs.  An exoskeleton is a wearable brace support suit featuring  motors at the hip and knee joints, rechargeable batteries, a  computer-based control system and a remote control for  selecting the walking mode. It is anticipated that improved  mobility will offer additional advantages as users become  more active, having a potentially positive effect on  cardiovascular fitness, bone quality and sense of  independence, whilst preventing the occurrence of pressure  ulcers. Led by senior physiotherapist Ian Benson, this study is  currently underway at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in  Aylesbury and will give researchers important information  which is necessary for the preparations of a bigger, multi-centre study.  Ultimately, once the objective benefits of using  exoskeletons have been demonstrated in research, the NHS will consider use of these modern devices to enhance  standards of care in the future.  If you are - or know somebody who might be - interested in participating in this study you can download this document to find out more about this study and contact the involved researchers. Study protocol details are accessible on ClinicalTrials.gov.