Research areas and methodologies

Rehabilitation in the neurological field, with particular interest in the rehabilitation of stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's and lesions of the Peripheral Nervous System.

Rehabilitation in the orthopedic field, with particular interest in the problems of the spine, gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis,amputations and post-surgical rehabilitation, especially for hip and knee replacement operations and rotator cuff reconstruction.

Pediatric rehabilitation in children suffering from pathologies of neurological origin.

Functional evaluations for the design of aids and orthoses aimed at facilitating patients in recovering autonomy in ADL

The research methodology of the physical medicine and rehabilitation area is based on the periodic evaluation of patients' functional capabilities through validated tests and scales and on the application of structured protocols, in order to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. 

The proposed interventions include the application and use of innovative machinery and robotic devices and their comparison with other robotic therapies, with therapies combined with or without the association of non-invasive brain stimulation, or with conventional therapies.

The physical medicine and rehabilitation area has available for research activity:

  • Photogrammetric system for computerized analysis of gait (Gait Analysis) and posture.
  • Robot for upper limb assessment and rehabilitation (Gloreha, iCONE, kuka bio-cooperative robotic system)
  • Sensorized bed for posture assessment and treatment
  • Exoskeletons for the rehabilitation of the gait cycle in patients with neurological pathologies.
  • WalkerView for the evaluation of postural and dynamic gait alterations.
  • EVM and ENF devices for orthopedic rehabilitation

Collaborations with other Research Centers

  • INAIL Vigorso prosthesis center in Budrio
  • Don Foundation Carlo Gnocchi from Rome
  • Santa Lucia Foundation of Rome
  • University of Rome Foro Italico
  • Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome

LABORATORIES

Movement Analysis Laboratory

The instrumentation present in the movement analysis laboratory of the UOC of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation consists of an optoelectronic system which is based on the joint use of 8 infrared cameras and relative software for the reconstruction of the motion of the markers in space (BTS SMART-D), 2 force platforms (BTS P-6000), 8 electromyographic probes (BTS FreeEMG) and 2 digital video cameras for two-dimensional video shooting (BTS Vixta) and an inertial system (BTS GWALK). The operation of this system is based on the three-dimensional reconstruction of the body segments through the reading of the instantaneous positions in space of special reflective markers, positioned on particular anatomical landmarks according to predefined protocols, detected by infrared cameras. 

The following activities are carried out in the Movement Analysis Laboratory:

  • gait analysis: gait study that allows the obtaining of quantitative data relating to walking through the acquisition and processing of dynamic kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic signals in subjects with pathological walking. 
  • optoelectronic plethysmography: study of the kinematics of the thoracic-abdominal wall during breathing as a whole and broken down into its segments (Pulmonary Rib Cage, Abdominal Rib Cage, Abdomen) aimed at subjects with respiratory problems (who have undergone thoracic surgery, suffering from chronic respiratory pathologies, resulting in stroke, spinal cord damage, etc.) 
  • analysis of upper limb movement: study of the kinematics of the upper limb on subjects with neurological, musculoskeletal problems orputees correggere con amputees. 

Movement analysis therefore finds application in various clinical and research fields: from the prescription and testing of lower limb orthoses in patients with stroke outcomes or with peripheral neurological deficits, to the evaluation of gait in patients undergoing hip or of the knee for the purposes of setting up and verifying the rehabilitation treatment, the testing of new braces for the recovery of the physiological walking pattern, the evaluation of new prostheses for upper limb amputees, up to the verification of the performance of subjects undergoing a treatment course pulmonary rehabilitation.