International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Advancing Neurorehabilitation Through Robotics and Digital Technologies

Jiho Kim^{* *}Correspondence: Jiho Kim, Department of Physical Therapy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, Email:

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Neurorehabilitation has emerged as one of the most dynamic and human-centered domains in modern healthcare, standing at the intersection of neuroscience, clinical medicine, technology, and lived experience. As survival rates improve for conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative disorders, and brain tumors, the focus of care has shifted decisively from mere survival to recovery, participation, and quality of life. Neurorehabilitation reflects this shift. It is not a single intervention or phase of treatment, but an evolving process that seeks to restore function, compensate for loss, and enable individuals to reclaim autonomy and meaning in their daily lives. From a contemporary perspective, neurorehabilitation is best understood as a philosophy of care rather than a rigid clinical protocol. It recognizes the nervous system as both vulnerable and remarkably adaptable. Advances in neuroscience have reinforced the concept of neuroplasticity, demonstrating that the brain and spinal cord retain the capacity to reorganize and form new connections throughout life. This insight has fundamentally reshaped rehabilitation strategies, replacing passive approaches with active, task-oriented, and experience-driven therapies. Recovery is no longer viewed as a fixed trajectory determined solely by the extent of injury, but as a dynamic process influenced by intensity of training, environmental enrichment, motivation, and timing of intervention. 

Advances in physical neurorehabilitation reflect a transition from passive care toward intensive, technology-enabled and personalized interventions that leverage the brain’s neuroplastic capacity for recovery. These developments emphasize enhancing functional independence, mobility and overall quality of life in individuals with stroke, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). One of the defining features of neurorehabilitation is its inherently interdisciplinary nature. Effective rehabilitation depends on coordinated efforts among neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, neuropsychologists, nurses, social workers, and caregivers. Each discipline contributes a unique lens through which recovery is understood and supported. Importantly, the patient is no longer a passive recipient of care but an active partner in the rehabilitation journey. This collaborative model reflects a broader cultural shift in medicine toward person-centered care, where individual goals, values, and social contexts are integral to clinical decision-making. Technological innovation has profoundly influenced neurorehabilitation over the past two decades. Robotics, virtual reality, wearable sensors, and brain computer interfaces have expanded the therapeutic toolbox, offering new ways to deliver high-intensity, repetitive and engaging training. These technologies are not replacements for skilled clinicians but amplifiers of therapeutic potential, enabling more precise measurement, feedback and personalization of interventions.

The timing and intensity of neurorehabilitation remain areas of active debate and research. Evidence increasingly supports the benefits of early intervention, capitalizing on periods of heightened neuroplasticity following injury. However, recovery does not adhere to a strict temporal window. Many individuals continue to make meaningful gains months or even years after the initial event, challenging traditional assumptions about plateauing. This perspective invites a rethinking of rehabilitation as a long-term process rather than a finite episode of care, with periodic reassessment and adaptation of goals as life circumstances evolve. Education and research are equally vital to the advancement of neurorehabilitation. Clinicians must be equipped not only with technical skills but with an understanding of neuroscience, behavior change, and cultural competence. Research, meanwhile, is moving toward more nuanced outcome measures that capture participation, satisfaction, and quality of life, rather than relying solely on impairment based scales. The growing emphasis on personalized medicine suggests a future in which rehabilitation programs are tailored to individual biological, psychological, and social profiles, guided by data but grounded in empathy