Work Cited in Nature

Dr. Greg Sawicki’s work was recently highlighted in the November 14th issue of Nature. This citation, from a journal in its 503rd volume of publication with a longstanding history of excellent scientific journalism, is a notable external recognition of the successful work emerging from Dr. Sawicki’s research program. The article by Peter Gwynne, part of a supplement all about the spine, overviews the state of robotic exoskeletons which give mobility to people with spinal cord injuries. The article notes that Dr. Sawicki’s work with ankle plantar flexors offers an innovative approach to regain movement for some patients who can stand but not walk after spinal cord injuries. By creating an elastic solution that extends the foot at the correct time during stepping, Dr. Sawicki’s work offers a way to facilitate movement that falls outside of complex and bulky robotic exoskeletons.