Chicago-Area Man Regains Hand Use After 5 Years of Paralysis

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At a 4th of July party, five years ago, then 21-year-old Sean Horst dove into a swimming pool and broke his neck. A spinal cord injury left him paralyzed below the shoulders. When he went home after two months in the hospital, Sean could barely lift his arms and he moved his 450-pound wheelchair by blowing into a straw. Today, Sean has regained some hand use, thanks to an innovative recently FDA-cleared device called ExaStim®Stimulation System.

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"Finding a device that I could use and regain some hand function was a huge, huge deal to me," Sean says.

ANEUVO's ExaStim is a lightweight pad that adheres to the back of a spinal cord patient's neck, like a sticker. Sixteen electrodes on the pad deliver gentle electrical stimulation and move with the body. The stimulation re-engages the nervous system and helps restore lost arm and hand strength and sensation.

"Just to see the movement was really exciting for him," says Sean's mom, Stephanie Jordan.

Sean took part in the ASPIRE clinical trial for ANEUVO's ExaStim at the TRYAbility NeuroRecovery Center in Downers Grove. Then, he became the first patient to ever use the ExaStim at home under the supervision of licensed therapists from TRYAbility.

TRYAbility's founder, licensed physical therapist and board-certified Neuro Clinical Specialist, Sakina Valika says ExaStim is effective and easy to use.

"The thing that really was exciting for me is that it is a very non-invasive simple mechanism," says Sakina. "This proprietary form of stimulation to the cervical column drives neuromuscular recovery."

It's estimated there are more than 300,000 people living with traumatic spinal cord injuries in the U.S., according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.

Sean says ExaStim helps him with fine motor tasks like using a highlighter as well as large movements like lifting weights.

Sakina says she likes that ExaStim focuses on returning neuromuscular function to the upper extremities, the arms and hands.

"One of the things I constantly heard from my patients was yes, it would be great to be able to walk again, but for right now, more important for me is to be able to get my ability to use my hands again so I can be independent in transfers, (moving from a wheelchair to a chair or car), and I don't have to rely on my parent or spouse," Sakina says.

Sean agrees. "I mean if I stay in the chair I stay on the chair but if I have my hands I could do so much," he says.

Sean measures progress in the small tasks.

"Most little tasks take all your energy and you've got to take multiple breaks," he says. "With ExaStim you don't really have to take breaks. You still have to focus but it's like an extra 50% boost in just stamina."

Today, Sean is not the only one who can use ExaStim at home. The device is currently available for home use with a prescription from a medical provider and a care team to guide therapy. ExaStim is also available for the clinical setting.

"I think he's come a long way from then to now, especially because of ExaStim," says Stephanie Jordan.

"A lot of that hope that I as a clinician and a lot of my patients were hanging on to has become more real," Sakina says.

"ExaStim is a revolutionary device that I'm glad to be a part of," Sean says. "It gives me a lot of hope."

For more information, click on ANEUVO's website: https://aneuvo.com/us/

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