Bruce H. Dobkin
University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Neurologic Study
Papers
11
Total Citations
1,707
H-Index
9
About
Bruce H. Dobkin is a leading figure in neurorehabilitation, whose work has fundamentally shaped how we understand and treat motor recovery after stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurological disorders. His research centers on the critical evaluation of rehabilitation interventions, particularly locomotor training and robotic-assisted therapies. Dobkin’s most influential contribution is his rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny of popular therapies. His landmark 2004 paper, "Strategies for stroke rehabilitation" (740 citations), provides a foundational framework for the field. He is perhaps best known for his incisive critiques, including his 2012 paper questioning the efficacy of body weight-supported treadmill training and robotic-assistive steppers (223 citations), which challenged the field to demand stronger evidence. Dobkin also pioneered the concept of progressive staging for pilot studies (220 citations) to improve the design of costly phase III trials, and he has been a visionary advocate for using technology, such as a Rehabilitation-Internet-of-Things (132 citations), to augment home-based motor training. Through his work, Dobkin has consistently pushed the field toward more rigorous science, ensuring that new interventions are truly effective before being widely adopted.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Strategies for stroke rehabilitation740 citations · 2004
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- 4Training and exercise to drive poststroke recovery191 citations · 2008
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- 10Upper Extremity Robotic-Assisted Rehabilitation: Results Not Yet Robust7 citations · 2023