Papers
18
Total Citations
248
H-Index
6
About
Gail Forrest is a leading rehabilitation scientist whose research sits at the intersection of robotic technology, motor recovery, and spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Based primarily in outpatient and clinical research settings, Forrest has dedicated her career to understanding how powered robotic exoskeletons can restore functional walking in individuals with chronic incomplete SCI. Her most impactful work, the WISE randomized controlled trial (2022, 73 citations), demonstrated that a structured 12-week exoskeleton training program produced clinically meaningful improvements in gait speed for community-dwelling individuals with iSCI — a landmark finding in the field. Complementing this, her neuromechanical investigations have illuminated how both SCI patients and able-bodied individuals adapt their gait and muscle activation patterns during exoskeleton-assisted walking (2017, 56 citations). Forrest has also championed patient and clinician perspectives through rigorous qualitative research, ensuring that exoskeleton development remains grounded in real-world usability. Her additional contributions span biomechanics, bone mineral density considerations for safe upright loading, and epidural stimulation for postural recovery. With cumulative citations reflecting sustained community engagement, Forrest's work has meaningfully shaped how clinicians approach technology-assisted locomotor rehabilitation.
Research Focus
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