With a little “tickle,” a new technology gives hope to stroke patients with paralysis

With a little “tickle,” a new technology gives hope to stroke patients with paralysis   For nearly a decade, Heather Rendulic hasn’t been able to use her left hand to feed herself or pick up something as light as a soup can – but that changed when she became part of a clinical trial that could radically improve the lives of people who’ve been paralyzed after a stroke.   Rendulic said the stimulation feels “kind of like a tickle.” It’s never painful, but it takes a little getting used to.   She can lift her arm above her head, use a fork to bring food to her mouth, and fully open and close her fist. The other person participating in the trial had similarly promising results.   The stimulation technology needs to be tested further, but it has great potential, the researchers said.   And it may fill a growing need. Doctors predict that 1 in every 4 people over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime, and many will develop some kind of paralysis, according to the World Stroke Organization.