Masafumi Ihara

National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Masafumi Ihara is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, with a focused expertise in robotic-assisted gait training for stroke survivors. His work centers on the clinical application of the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL), a cyborg-type robot designed to restore walking function in patients with severe neurological impairment. Ihara’s major contributions include pioneering evidence that early, high-intensity gait training with HAL is both feasible and significantly more effective than conventional physical therapy for patients with acute stroke and severe walking disability. His pilot study (2019, 40 citations) demonstrated that HAL allows for a higher dosage of gait training, even in patients with profound motor deficits. This was followed by a landmark randomized controlled trial (2023, 15 citations) that provided robust evidence for HAL’s superiority in improving walking independence. By rigorously validating a novel robotic intervention in the acute phase—a critical window for neural recovery—Ihara’s work directly challenges standard rehabilitation protocols and offers a powerful new tool for clinicians. His research is instrumental in bridging the gap between advanced robotics and practical, patient-centered stroke rehabilitation.