Renate Ch. Meindl
Papers
3
Total Citations
150
H-Index
2
About
Renate Ch. Meindl is a pioneering researcher in neurorehabilitation, focusing on robotic-assisted locomotor training for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Her work centers on how exoskeleton-based bodyweight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) can drive cortical reorganization and restore walking function. In her landmark 2015 study (120 citations), Meindl demonstrated that HAL® exoskeleton training not only improves walking parameters but also normalizes cortical excitability in the primary somatosensory cortex—a breakthrough showing that robotic therapy can reverse maladaptive neuroplasticity after SCI. She further expanded this in a 2017 pilot study (28 citations), revealing that one year of HAL-BWSTT with variable frequency yields sustained functional gains in chronic SCI patients, challenging assumptions about recovery windows. Her research uniquely bridges neurophysiology and rehabilitation engineering, providing evidence that exoskeletal training induces measurable brain changes alongside clinical improvements. Meindl’s contributions have shaped modern neurorehabilitation protocols, offering hope for long-term ambulatory recovery. Her work continues to influence how clinicians integrate robotics into SCI therapy, emphasizing that neural plasticity can be harnessed even years after injury.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Exoskelettales Rehabilitationstraining bei Querschnittgelähmten2 citations · 2013