Papers
6
Total Citations
90
H-Index
5
About
Joan Vidal is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation for spinal cord injury (SCI), with a focus on restoring motor function through innovative technologies. Their work centers on transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), robotic exoskeletons, and hybrid neuroprosthetic systems. Vidal’s major contributions include demonstrating that tSCS combined with robotic exoskeleton rehabilitation can improve upper limb function in cervical SCI, as shown in a 2023 clinical trial (25 citations). They also reported the first case of assisted overground stepping recovery in a patient with chronic motor complete SCI (2012, 24 citations), challenging prior assumptions about gait rehabilitation. Vidal spearheaded the ABLE lower-limb exoskeleton—a low-cost, accessible design (2017, 5 citations)—and led a multicentric investigation establishing safety and feasibility protocols for its clinical use (2023, 21 citations). Their recent work includes a modular neuroprosthesis for hybrid FES-robot applications (2024, 3 citations) and a comprehensive review of emerging SCI therapies (2025, 12 citations). With a career spanning over a decade, Vidal’s research bridges engineering and clinical practice, advancing practical, scalable solutions that improve independence and quality of life for individuals with SCI.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4Advances and New Therapies in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury12 citations · 2025
- 5ABLE: assistive biorobotic low-cost exoskeleton5 citations · 2017
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