Tanja H. Kakebeeke

Swiss Paraplegic Research, University of Fribourg

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Tanja H. Kakebeeke is a leading researcher in rehabilitation robotics and exercise physiology, with a focus on developing innovative training strategies for individuals with neurological impairments. Her work centers on the integration of real-time physiological feedback with robot-assisted gait therapy, particularly for patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Kakebeeke’s major contributions include pioneering methods to control work rate and oxygen uptake during robot-assisted walking, enabling both cardiopulmonary assessment and exercise training in a single session. Her 2007 paper on work rate-driven exercise during robot-assisted gait (32 citations) laid the groundwork for this approach, while her subsequent studies on volitional feedback control (2008, 24 citations) and real-time oxygen uptake regulation (2009, 22 citations) refined these techniques. Notably, her 2009 work introduced a novel feedback-control structure for oxygen uptake, demonstrating how body-weight-supported robotic devices can serve dual purposes as rehabilitation tools and exercise platforms for stroke and spinal cord injury patients. Kakebeeke’s research bridges the gap between neurorehabilitation and cardiovascular fitness, offering practical solutions for improving health outcomes in neurologically impaired populations.