I don't know how far back in years Barbara Gordon was shot by the Joker, rendering her paralyzed from the waste down, but shouldn't the muscles in her legs be severely deteriorated by now?
 

Better question is with all the tech in the DCU (and the Bat-Verse), how have they not come up with a way for her to walk again?

" Better question is with all the tech in the DCU (and the Bat-Verse), how have they not come up with a way for her to walk again? "

Well if you have the funds you can use electrical stimulation to work the leg muscles. But I'll go the way of Gambler and ask why the hell hasn't Batman fixed her. I mean doesn't he have like an anti-paralyzing spray in his utility belt?

he came back from a broken back and learned how to walk again. Damien even recently had his spine replaced so he would no longer be paralyzed. During Blackest Night Deadman took control of her body and even stated that she has great muscle memory and got her body to walk, run, and do aerobatics. I think it is her willingness to accept her situation as well as her fear of getting back out there in the thick of it. she is willing to fight and defend when the villain comes to her but she seems unwilling to go out and fight for the innoscent

" Don't we already have, like, dozens of "What the hell, DC?" threads dedicated to Barbara's disability? "

" @AtPhantom:  This isn't one of those threads, man. I just want to know how she maintains the muscles in her legs despite having not used them for so long. "

I'd would suggest reading the Batman story titled "the Chalice" from a few years back. In this story Bruce acquires the Holy Grail and finds out it does have the legendary healing properties ascribe to legend. He offers to Barbara to use the Grail to restore her legs. She refuses, saying it has something to do with her beliefs, thought she never says what those beliefs are that would stop her from wanting to be healed by the Holy Grail.

You can still keep your legs somewhat in tact by sending nerval impulses towards them or with shock therapy.

" Better question is with all the tech in the DCU (and the Bat-Verse), how have they not come up with a way for her to walk again? "

" You can still keep your legs somewhat in tact by sending nerval impulses towards them or with shock therapy. "

" I'd would suggest reading the Batman story titled "the Chalice" from a few years back. In this story Bruce acquires the Holy Grail and finds out it does have the legendary healing properties ascribe to legend. He offers to Barbara to use the Grail to restore her legs. She refuses, saying it has something to do with her beliefs, thought she never says what those beliefs are that would stop her from wanting to be healed by the Holy Grail. "

" Using a "holy" relic is different then using modern day advances in technology and medical treatments. It doesn't necessarily mean she does not want to, or is not open to, walking again. That's more about the way in which it is done (in my opinion). "

" @Gambler said:

" Using a "holy" relic is different then using modern day advances in technology and medical treatments. It doesn't necessarily mean she does not want to, or is not open to, walking again. That's more about the way in which it is done (in my opinion). "

Possible... I was just pointing out a specific instance when she could have walked again and the reason why given in that story. Explanations are few in the comics to why this situation persists.  Considering the world she lives in, the only thing actually stopping her is author fiat and a vague in-universe explanation about her refusing for unspecified reasons. I mean considering who she hangs out with. She could likely not only walk but be taken to a level of physical power beyond anything she ever had. "

" @Gambler: I cant find the scan, but i am certain i have seen somewhere that she was offered a cure.. hmm "

Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick

" Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick "

" Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick "

" @Son_of_Magnus said:

" Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick "

Nice. Do you remember what issue/comic this took place in? "

" @Gambler said:

" @Son_of_Magnus said:

" Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick "

Nice. Do you remember what issue/comic this took place in? "

You'll have to give me a minute to go scrummaging through my back issues but it was either BoP or Nightwing I'll keep you posted "

Cool scan (still trying to find what issue :P)

i didnt realize this was after she became paralyzed tho. from reading it it seems more like something that happened before the accident and they are talking about it afterwards

" i didnt realize this was after she became paralyzed tho "

I Say she should get one of those Power-Suits that Batman Wore in Kingdom Come---When He Was crippled...
I Can't Stand to see such a character with such bad luck...
 

A lot of good ideas her but her spinal cord injury could be incomplete or complete. Complete meaning that NO messages from her brain will pass the injury her looks to be maybe L-2 maybe even L-4 so thats pretty low meaning thats why she has such great balance. If her injury is incomplete who knows what she is capable of since the cord is not completely severed meaning neural (not nerval Voidheart) messages to her legs and that could be why Deadman during Blackest Night got her to move so well. I'm not sure about her history tho just know a bunch about spinal cord injuries. Though her leg muscles would atrophy or deteriorate they would still keep their mass (thats how it goes sometime). Soooo yea......

Because being in a wheel chair is some serious character development

" Because being in a wheel chair is some serious character development "

" Ya Babs did get her legs back for a while and went to show Dick and he was with Starfire and she was just like what's the point and decided to go back in the chair in the Oracle persona if she can't have Dick "

Of course the technology in the DCU exists the allow her the use of her legs. There are any number of technology or magic that could facilitate that. Its been shown with other characters. Its an editorial decision
to keep her in the chair, plain and simple. I would be willing to bet if she was killed when the Joker shot her she would have already returned from the grave by now.

" I would be willing to bet if she was killed when the Joker shot her she would have already returned from the grave by now. "