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About

Kristen Hohl is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation robotics, specializing in the development and clinical translation of wearable robotic technologies for individuals with neurological injuries. Her work focuses on restoring gait and balance after stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI), bridging the gap between engineering innovation and clinical practice. Hohl’s most impactful contribution is her 2018 randomized controlled trial (97 citations), which demonstrated that stride management assist exoskeleton training significantly improves walking speed and endurance in chronic stroke survivors compared to functional gait training, while also strengthening corticospinal drive. She further advanced the field with a pilot study (50 citations) on soft robotic exosuits, showing their potential for high-intensity gait training. Notably, Hohl pioneered the clinical evaluation of wearable gyroscopic actuators (GyBAR) for balance support (32 citations), a novel approach that provides overground stability without obstructing leg movement. She also authored a framework for clinical exoskeleton utilization (29 citations), guiding evidence-based adoption in rehabilitation settings. Her pilot work combining exoskeletons with functional electrical stimulation in acute SCI highlights her commitment to early intervention. With over 200 total citations, Hohl’s research is shaping the future of personalized, robot-assisted neurorehabilitation.