Neurorehabilitation Technology

This revised, updated second edition provides an accessible, practical overview of major areas of technical development and clinical application in the field of neurorehabilitation movement therapy. The initial section provides a rationale for technology application in movement therapy by summarizing recent findings in neuroplasticity and motor learning.  The following section then explains the state of the art in human-machine interaction requirements for clinical rehabilitation practice. Subsequent sections describe the ongoing revolution in robotic therapy for upper extremity movement and for walking, and then describe other emerging technologies including electrical stimulation, virtual reality, wearable sensors, and brain-computer interfaces. The promises and limitations of these technologies in neurorehabilitation are discussed. Throughout the book the chapters provide detailed practical information on state-of-the-art clinical applications of these devices following stroke, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic disorders. The text is illustrated throughout with photographs and schematic diagrams which serve to clarify the information for the reader. 

Neurorehabilitation Technology, Second Edition is a valuable resource for neurologists, biomedical engineers, roboticists, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and those training in these fields.

David J. Reinkensmeyer

David Reinkensmeyer is Professor in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of California Irvine. His research interests are in neuromuscular control, motor learning, robotics, and rehabilitation. A major goal of his research is to develop physically interacting, robotic and mechatronic devices to help the nervous system recover the ability to control movement of the arm, hand, and leg after neurologic injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injury. He is also investigating the computational mechanisms of human motor learning in order to provide a rational basis for designing movement training devices. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation.  His laboratory has helped develop a variety of robotic devices for manipulating and measuring movement in humans and rodents, including two devices that have been successfully commercialized as Flint Rehabilitation’s MusicGlove and as Hocoma’s ArmeoSpring.

Volker Dietz

Volker Dietz, neurologist,  is Professor emeritus and former Director of Spinal Cord Injury Center and Chair of Paraplegiology, University of Zürich, Balgrist Hospital, Switzerland. His research is focused on neuroplasticity, neurorehabilitation technology and regeneration. He retired in 2009, having worked at the University of Zürich since 1992. Presently he is Senior Research Professor at the University Hospital Balgrist. Previously he had an educational grant at the National Institute for Neurology, Queen Square, London. Afterwards he held a position at the University of Freiburg and was guest professor at the Miami project to cure paralysis. He has been on the editorial board of the several journals of neurology and neurosciences. He has been awarded various honors and awards including the Schellenberg Prize for outstanding research in paraplegia in 2012.

“This well written and comprehensive book reviews fundamental principles and practical applications of technology used in neurorehabilitation. … This book can be used by engineers, scientists, and rehabilitation clinicians who are interested in obtaining an in-depth understanding of various forms of rehabilitation technology. … It also represents a step above the first edition, and would be a unique and useful contribution to a rehabilitation library.” (Elliot J. Roth, Doody’s Book Reviews, April, 2017)