Nerve zap & therapy: a new hope for regaining hand control?

This small, early-stage study tested whether it's safe and practical to pair vagus nerve stimulation (a small implanted device) with intensive hand and arm rehabilitation for people with neck-level spinal cord injuries. Six participants had the device implanted and were randomly assigned to receive either active or inactive stimulation during their therapy sessions. The main goal was to check for safety issues and see if people could stick with the demanding therapy schedule, while also looking for early signs of improved hand strength and function.