From Wheelchair to Staircase: The Inspiring Journey of Gert-Jan Oskam

Gert-Jan Oskam, a man from the Netherlands, lost his ability to walk after a motorbike accident in 2011. The damaged portion of his spinal cord severed the connection between his brain and his legs, preventing signals from reaching his legs to make them move. However, in 2018, a breakthrough occurred when neurosurgeon Dr. Jocelyne Bloch inserted a device on Oskam’s spine that could send out electrical impulses, allowing him to walk with a walker after intensive training. Although the movement was initially awkward and required pushing a button, with more training, Oskam was able to move much more naturally.

In 2023, Bloch implanted additional devices inside Oskam’s brain to create a “digital bridge” between his legs and his brain. With this technology, Oskam gained precise control of his joints and was able to stand, walk with a walker, and even climb stairs. Remarkably, Oskam could still walk with the device turned off, indicating that it may be helping his nervous system rebuild itself.

The team behind this technology is led by neuroscientist Grégoire Courtine, who hopes to make the technology safe and effective for wider public use within the next decade. However, the team is still exploring ways to enhance the technology further with the ultimate goal of enabling paralyzed individuals to walk completely “normally.”