Vivian Weerdesteyn

About

Dr. Vivian Weerdesteyn is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation and motor control, with a primary focus on restoring gait function after stroke. Her work centers on the development and evaluation of innovative robotic training strategies that leverage assist-as-needed (AAN) paradigms and multi-degree-of-freedom (mDOF) robots to enhance motor learning and recovery. A key contribution is her demonstration that task-specific robotic training can improve propulsion symmetry and gait speed in chronic stroke survivors, as shown in a proof-of-concept study (31 citations). Her randomized controlled trial on AAN robotic gait training (40 citations) provided critical evidence for its effectiveness in improving post-stroke gait patterns. Dr. Weerdesteyn has also investigated the immediate after-effects of pelvic-support versus pelvic-constraint robotic gait training (12 citations), revealing how specific robotic features influence overground walking. Her research bridges the gap between robotic engineering and clinical rehabilitation, offering evidence-based pathways to optimize motor recovery. With a growing citation impact, her work is shaping the future of gait rehabilitation technology.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Effect of assist-as-needed robotic gait training on the gait pattern post stroke: a randomized controlled trial

   40 citations · 2021
2. 2
   Task-specific training for improving propulsion symmetry and gait speed in people in the chronic phase after stroke: a proof-of-concept study

   31 citations · 2021
3. 3
   Immediate after-effects of robot-assisted gait with pelvic support or pelvic constraint on overground walking in healthy subjects

   12 citations · 2019

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links