Peter Schwenkreis

About

Peter Schwenkreis is a leading clinical researcher in neurorehabilitation, with a focus on using robotic exoskeletons to restore motor function after neurological injury. His work centers on the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exoskeleton, investigating its capacity to improve walking and posture in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic stroke. A key contribution is demonstrating that HAL-based bodyweight-supported treadmill training not only enhances gait parameters but also normalizes cortical excitability in the primary somatosensory cortex, providing a neurophysiological basis for recovery. His most cited paper (120 citations) established this link in SCI patients, while his HALESTRO study (53 citations) confirmed similar benefits in chronic stroke through a rigorous crossover design. Schwenkreis has also explored long-term training effects, showing that one year of HAL therapy can yield further functional gains depending on frequency. Though some of his earlier work appears in German-language journals, his core research has shaped the evidence base for robotic neurorehabilitation, bridging engineering and clinical neuroscience to advance treatment for severe motor impairments.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   HAL® exoskeleton training improves walking parameters and normalizes cortical excitability in primary somatosensory cortex in spinal cord injury patients

   120 citations · 2015
2. 2
   A Randomized and Controlled Crossover Study Investigating the Improvement of Walking and Posture Functions in Chronic Stroke Patients Using HAL Exoskeleton – The HALESTRO Study (HAL-Exoskeleton STROke Study)

   53 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Functional Outcome of Neurologic-Controlled HAL-Exoskeletal Neurorehabilitation in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot With One Year Treatment and Variable Treatment Frequency

   28 citations · 2017
4. 4
   Exoskelettales Rehabilitationstraining bei Querschnittgelähmten

   2 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links