Susan Hillier

Papers

Total Citations

191

H-Index

About

Susan Hillier is a leading researcher in paediatric rehabilitation, with a primary focus on cerebral palsy, gait disorders, and the application of assistive and rehabilitation robotics. Her most influential work includes a landmark 2017 systematic review on robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) for children, which has garnered 188 citations. This review critically evaluated how robotic devices can provide high-repetition, mechanically assisted walking practice—overcoming the limitations of therapist-led therapy—to improve motor outcomes in children who struggle to generate sufficient or correct movement patterns. Hillier’s research has been instrumental in shaping evidence-based protocols for integrating robotics into paediatric neurorehabilitation. She has also contributed to foundational texts on rehabilitation and assistive robotics, addressing the learned nonuse phenomenon in children with cerebral palsy, where a dominant upper limb is favoured at the expense of the non-dominant side. Through her systematic, clinically grounded approach, Hillier has helped bridge the gap between engineering innovation and therapeutic practice, providing clinicians with the evidence needed to adopt robotic technologies. Her work remains essential reading for researchers and clinicians seeking to optimize motor recovery and functional independence in children with neurological conditions.