Zapping legs to row away pain: new hope for spinal injury sufferers

This study tested whether a special rowing machine could help reduce chronic nerve pain and brain inflammation in people with recent spinal cord injuries. Participants, who were within two years of their injury, used a machine that electrically stimulates paralyzed leg muscles to allow a full-body rowing workout. Researchers compared 12 weeks of this stimulated exercise to a waiting period, measuring changes in pain, brain scans, and the body's natural pain-relief systems.