Aya Yatsugi

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Aya Yatsugi is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of neurosurgery, rehabilitation engineering, and postoperative care. Her primary research focus is on the feasibility and efficacy of robotic neurorehabilitation, specifically utilizing the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) for patients recovering from spine surgery. Yatsugi’s major contribution lies in pioneering the use of HAL during the early postoperative stage—a critical and understudied period. Her most-cited paper, "Feasibility of Neurorehabilitation Using a Hybrid Assistive Limb for Patients Who Underwent Spine Surgery" (2018, 10 citations), provides foundational evidence that robotic-assisted therapy can be safely and effectively introduced soon after spinal procedures, challenging conventional rehabilitation timelines. This work has helped bridge the gap between advanced robotic systems and clinical spinal care, offering new pathways for improving patient mobility and recovery outcomes. By demonstrating that HAL-based training is both feasible and beneficial in this delicate window, Yatsugi has established a promising direction for future research in postoperative neurorehabilitation, making her a notable figure in the evolving field of robotic medicine.