Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Margit Gfoehler is a leading figure in neurorehabilitation engineering, whose work centers on restoring upper-limb function in stroke survivors through innovative hybrid robotic systems. Her major contribution is the development of the RETRAINER system, a pioneering platform that combines a passive exoskeleton for arm suspension with EMG-triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). This approach uniquely empowers patients to use their own muscles and volitional control during therapy, promoting active recovery rather than passive movement. Gfoehler’s research has demonstrated significant clinical impact, with her most cited paper—a randomized controlled trial of the RETRAINER system—garnering 59 citations and validating the technology’s effectiveness in improving arm function. Her 2019 concept and evaluation paper (48 citations) and 2017 first-results paper (34 citations) further established the system’s feasibility and therapeutic promise. As the coordinator of the European RETRAINER project, Gfoehler has advanced a paradigm where robotic assistance and neuroprosthetics work in concert, enabling stroke survivors to regain reaching and grasping abilities. Her work bridges engineering and clinical practice, offering a tangible path to more natural, patient-driven rehabilitation.