Pierre A. Guertin1, 2

1Neuroscience Unit, Laval University Medical Center (CHUL – CHUQ), Quebec City, Quebec GIV  4G2, Canada
2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec G1V  4G2, Canada

Abstract: The development of secondary health complications following spinal cord injury has been increasingly recognized by healthcare professionals as a major concern. These problems most specifically affect complete or near-complete spinal cord injury patients (e.g., those with minimal mobility), who are not typically rehabilitated with treadmill training approaches, because motor con-trol and leg movements are largely impaired. However, recent pharmaceutical advances in central pattern generator activation may provide new therapeutic hopes for these spinal cord injury patients. This article provides a comprehensive overview, for the non-specialist, of the most recent advances in this field.

Key Words: central pattern generator; locomotion; spinal cord injury; mice

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