Stepping forward: Implementation of sensor technology in clinical rehabilitation

Walking and sleeping play an important role in recovery after a neurological disorder, such as stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury. Tests used for monitoring gait and sleep during rehabilitation often provide only a snapshot of a person’s functioning. This thesis shows that sensor technology can provide valuable additional insights into patients’ real-world functioning. By continuously, automatically, and objectively monitoring walking and sleep, it offers a better understanding of how people function outside therapy sessions and how their recovery evolves over time. These insights help healthcare professionals tailor interventions to individual needs and support more personalized, effective, and efficient rehabilitation care. Taken together, these findings show how sensor technology can contribute, step by step, to better monitoring, tailored treatments, and improved rehabilitation care.