Patent ID: 7135497

Claim:
A method of increasing locomotor function and/or neuromuscular strength in a mammalian patient with spinal cord contusion injury or motor neuron degeneration, the method comprising administering to the patient an amount of at least one β 2 adrenergic agonist effective to increase locomotor function and/or neuromuscular strength in the patient, wherein the β 2 adrenergic agonist is selected from the group consisting of salmeterol, ractopamine, cimaterol, terbutaline, fenterol, memproterenol, isoprenline, MJ-9184-1, trimetoquinol, tetrahydropapaveroline, soterenol, salmefamol, rimiterol, OH-25, isoetharine, R-804, orciprenaline, quinterenol, sulfonterol, dobutamine, and isoproterenol and salts of the foregoing.