Silke Heller
Papers
2
Total Citations
494
H-Index
2
About
Silke Heller is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, with a primary focus on robotic-assisted gait training for stroke survivors. Her work centers on understanding how technology-driven orthoses can restore walking function in hemiparetic patients, a population severely limited by post-stroke motor deficits. Heller’s most influential contribution is her seminal 2007 study on the effects of locomotion training using a robot-driven gait orthosis, which has garnered over 416 citations. This research demonstrated that active, repetitive walking exercises facilitated by robotic devices can significantly improve gait recovery, even in patients unable to initiate movement independently. She further explored the physiological demands of such therapy in her 2006 work, comparing energy expenditure across different Lokomat walking conditions in both patients and healthy subjects. By bridging engineering and clinical rehabilitation, Heller has helped establish robotic orthoses as a viable tool for early, intensive gait training. Her findings have shaped modern stroke rehabilitation protocols, offering a path to greater mobility and independence for individuals with severe hemiparesis.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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