"Janne's Next Step" is a Unique Documentary that Chronicles a Man's Fight to Walk Again After a Devastating Spinal Cord Injury

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

"The basis of Locomotor Training is the discovery that the spinal cord has a complicated circuitry that can control locomotor," said Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology and of Neurology at UCLA. "Our research has proven that the spinal cord can actually re-learn how to walk after a spinal cord injury, without input from the brain."

After Janne Kouri suffered a tragic diving accident that nearly cost him his life, he was told he would never walk again. He underwent an experimental activity-based rehabilitation treatment called Locomotor Training that was developed by Dr. Reggie Edgerton (UCLA) and Dr. Susan Harkema (University of Louisville) in partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Locomotor Training re-teaches the spinal cord how to control motor functions, like walking, through repetitive motion. It was developed and perfected with the help of lab animals and brave people, like Janne. After months of intensive training, Janne began to regain function in his feet, then in his legs, and today Janne can take steps with a walker.

Janne is now helping hundreds of others living with spinal cord injuries through his nonprofit organization, NextStep Fitness -- the first community facility in the U.S. to offer Locomotor and activity-based training at its state-of-the-art facility in Los Angeles. With this optimistic story of human triumph over tragedy, "Janne's Next Step" shows viewers how dedicated experts at UCLA, University of Louisville and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation are developing incredible, cutting-edge treatments to help those living with spinal cord injuries walk again. For more information about the film or screening event, please email info@fbrmedia.com.

FBR Media is an award-winning production studio that creates striking digital content across multiple platforms. Its latest TV series, Bench to Bedside, tells inspirational true stories about people and animals living with serious illnesses and the incredible biomedical research that could save their lives. FBR Media is a registered trademark of the Foundation for Biomedical Research.

SOURCE FBR Media

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World Premiere of "Janne's Next Step" on Los Angeles' KTTV on July 29

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