Rob den Otter
University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen
Papers
6
Total Citations
287
H-Index
5
About
Rob den Otter is a movement scientist whose research centers on robotic-assisted gait rehabilitation, with a particular focus on the Lokomat exoskeleton and its application in stroke recovery. His work has systematically investigated how key training parameters — including guidance force, body weight support, and gait speed — shape muscle activity and locomotor patterns in both healthy individuals and post-stroke hemiparetic patients. Den Otter's major contribution lies in providing the empirical foundation needed for clinicians to use the Lokomat purposefully and effectively. By comparing robotic-guided walking with conventional treadmill walking, he has revealed critical differences in neuromuscular demands and temporal gait symmetry, informing more targeted rehabilitation protocols. His 2016 study on combined parameter effects in able-bodied walkers (75 citations) and his 2017 comparison in stroke patients (68 citations) are particularly influential in the field. Collectively, his most-cited works have accumulated over 280 citations, reflecting strong uptake by the rehabilitation science community. More recently, den Otter has extended this work to explore asymmetric movement support — an innovative approach tailored to the unilateral deficits characteristic of stroke — positioning him at the forefront of precision robotic gait training research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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