Kazuo Minematsu
Papers
1
Total Citations
40
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Kazuo Minematsu is a leading figure in stroke rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation engineering, best known for pioneering the clinical application of the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) cyborg-type robot for gait recovery. His research focuses on integrating wearable robotic exoskeletons into acute stroke care, addressing the critical challenge of delivering high-intensity gait training to patients with severe motor impairment. In his landmark pilot study (2019, 40 citations), Minematsu demonstrated that HAL-based therapy could safely enable early, intensive gait rehabilitation in acute stroke patients—a population often excluded from conventional physical therapy due to disability severity. This work established a new paradigm for robot-assisted neurorehabilitation, showing that cyborg technology can overcome traditional dosage and intensity limitations. Beyond this foundational study, his contributions have shaped clinical protocols for HAL use in stroke recovery, influencing rehabilitation robotics research worldwide. Minematsu’s achievements include advancing the evidence base for wearable exoskeletons in acute care settings, bridging the gap between engineering innovation and bedside practice, and inspiring subsequent trials on robotic gait training’s long-term functional outcomes.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1