Aiki Marushima
Papers
18
Total Citations
411
H-Index
12
About
Aiki Marushima is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation robotics, specializing in the application of the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exoskeleton for gait recovery in patients with severe neurological impairments. Her work focuses on stroke, spinal cord injury, and myelopathy, where she has pioneered the use of bioelectrically-controlled exoskeletons to restore voluntary movement and improve walking ability. Her most cited study (63 citations) demonstrates how robotic intervention reshapes lower limb muscle synergies in acute post-stroke patients, revealing a restoration of lateral symmetry that conventional therapy cannot achieve. She has also shown that HAL training reduces spasticity in chronic quadriplegia and improves functional mobility in subacute stroke, with pilot studies reporting safe and significant gains. Her research extends to rare conditions like spinal cord infarction and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, where she has documented feasibility and safety in small cohorts. With over 350 cumulative citations across her top ten papers, Marushima’s contributions are defining a new paradigm: using wearable robots not just as assistive devices, but as tools to retrain the nervous system itself. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of robotics, neuroplasticity, and clinical rehabilitation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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