Bernhard Elsner

About

Bernhard Elsner is a leading clinical researcher specializing in neurorehabilitation, with a particular focus on electromechanical and robot-assisted technologies for stroke recovery and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. His work has made landmark contributions to understanding how robotic devices can improve upper limb function, activities of daily living, and gait in patients recovering from neurological injury. Elsner is perhaps best known for his series of influential Cochrane systematic reviews examining robot-assisted arm and gait training after stroke, which have collectively amassed over 2,100 citations — a testament to their foundational role in evidence-based rehabilitation practice. His 2015 review on electromechanical arm training alone has garnered 681 citations, reflecting how widely clinicians and researchers have drawn on his synthesized evidence. His 2020 network meta-analysis further refined the field by comparing the relative effectiveness of different robotic arm devices, offering nuanced guidance for clinical decision-making. Extending his work beyond stroke, Elsner has also investigated robotic and body-weight-supported treadmill training for spinal cord injury populations. His sustained commitment to updating and refining the evidence base — with reviews spanning from 2013 through 2025 — demonstrates an exceptional dedication to keeping clinical practice informed by the most current and rigorous research available.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Electromechanical and robot-assisted arm training for improving activities of daily living, arm function, and arm muscle strength after stroke

   681 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Electromechanical-assisted training for walking after stroke

   566 citations · 2017
3. 3
   Electromechanical and robot-assisted arm training for improving activities of daily living, arm function, and arm muscle strength after stroke

   385 citations · 2018
4. 4
   Electromechanical-assisted training for walking after stroke

   244 citations · 2020
5. 5
   Systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of robotic-assisted arm training for improving activities of daily living and upper limb function after stroke

   127 citations · 2020
6. 6
   Electromechanical-assisted training for walking after stroke

   122 citations · 2013
7. 7
   Is body-weight-supported treadmill training or robotic-assisted gait training superior to overground gait training and other forms of physiotherapy in people with spinal cord injury? A systematic review

   105 citations · 2017
8. 8
   Electromechanical-assisted training for walking after stroke

   14 citations · 2025

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links