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About

Annemie Spooren is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, specializing in robot-assisted therapy for individuals with neurological impairments, including spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating task-oriented training methods that integrate rehabilitation technology to improve upper and lower extremity function. A key contribution is the creation of the T-TOAT method, a structured approach to task-oriented arm training designed for seamless implementation in rehabilitation technology, enabling complex skill exercises that involve object manipulation. Spooren’s impact is evident in her highly cited feasibility study on robot-assisted upper extremity training for cervical spinal cord injury (49 citations), which demonstrated the potential of robotic systems to enhance skill recovery. Additionally, her research on driven gait orthoses (38 citations) uniquely incorporates patient and therapist perspectives, emphasizing usability and motivation to optimize robot-assisted gait training outcomes. Her mixed-methods study on multiple sclerosis patients (7 citations) further underscores her commitment to patient-centered rehabilitation, blending quantitative and qualitative insights to validate perceived improvements from robotic therapy. Spooren’s work bridges technology and clinical practice, advancing accessible, effective neurorehabilitation.