June 1, 2012 | Emma

Researchers have used a combination of drugs, electrical stimulation and a robot to help paralysed rats to walk again.

Paralysis happens when the nerves of the spinal cord are crushed or cut. Using all three treatments together allowed other nerves to take on the function of the damaged ones. Amazingly, the rats were then able to complete an obstacle course.

This isn’t a cure. But the reasearch might help develop new treatments to help paralysed humans walk again.

This research appears in the 31 May 2012 issue of the journal Science.