Dennis Byrd tackles spinal injury - former New York Jets lineman's rehabilitation from paralyzing injury - Cover Story

Science World, Nov 19, 1993 by Karen McNulty

When his right side had gained some strength, Byrd stood up for the first time in a pool, an experience he says was like "standing on a flagpole." Then he began to walk in the pool, with a therapist pushing his lagging left leg along.

Eventually, his left side grew stronger. He moved to walking between parallel bars and on crutches. By the time he was discharged, the therapists said he'd regained strength in virtually every muscle that had been paralyzed.

Exactly how it happened is unclear. Perhaps the surviving spinal nerves took on new functions to replace those that had been lost. Or it could be that damaged nerves had repaired themselves, contrary to expectations. Whatever the case, doctors say some degree of recovery from spinal injury is becoming more and more common with modern treatments.

Still, Byrd realizes he was one of the lucky ones. Sidelined from football for life, he plans to set up a camp for wheelchair-bound kids near his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.