This special issue of “Robotica” gives an opportunity to present a cross-section of the wide range of research and development projects in rehabilitation robotics. Rehabilitation Robotics (RR) is the application of robotic technology to the rehabilitative needs of people with disabilities as well as the growing elderly population. The papers were originally presented at the ICORR'97 conference, organised by the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering and held in April 97 at the University of Bath. ICORR'97 was the fifth in the series of International Conferences on Rehabilitation Robotics and, after a break of three years, was a welcome and overdue time for sharing of ideas between workers in the field.