Papers
6
Total Citations
1,746
H-Index
6
About
Lorie Richards is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, whose work focuses on restoring upper-limb function after stroke. Her most impactful contributions lie in evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted therapy for chronic stroke survivors. She was the principal investigator of the landmark VA ROBOTICS trial, a multicenter, randomized controlled study published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* (1,409 citations), which demonstrated that robot-assisted therapy can significantly reduce long-term impairment even years after a stroke. This pivotal finding challenged the prevailing belief that recovery plateaus after six months. Richards further advanced the field by conducting a rigorous economic analysis of this therapy (173 citations), providing crucial data on its cost-effectiveness for healthcare systems. Her research has also explored the combination of botulinum toxin with exercise therapy and, more recently, used neuroimaging to identify brain connectivity changes and predictors of motor recovery following intensive practice. By bridging clinical trials with health economics and neuroscience, Richards has provided a comprehensive evidence base that supports the integration of robotic rehabilitation into standard post-stroke care.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robot-Assisted Therapy for Long-Term Upper-Limb Impairment after Stroke1,409 citations · 2010
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