Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute

On World Stroke Day, we spoke with Dr. Alessandro Specchia, a PM&R physician and coordinator of the Outpatient Clinic at Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Centre. The conversation centered on REHYB Horizon 2020 EU Project, a recently concluded research project that spanned four years and involved multiple European clinical and technical partners. ✔️ The project’s full name was “Rehabilitation based on hybrid neuroprostesis: evaluation of the feasibility, functionality and usability of the system in a post-stroke patient population” and its goal was to assess the feasibility and, to some extent, the effectiveness of rehabilitative treatment for upper limb impairment in patients recovering from a stroke. ✔️ The project had its own unique characteristics. Patients were introduced to a prototype hybrid exoskeleton that seamlessly and synchronously integrated a multimodal approach to upper limb treatment. This innovative device combined a motorized or spring-loaded exoskeleton to enhance upper limb movement, the activation of upper limb muscles through functional electrical stimulation, and a virtual reality training environment that simulates upper limb movements involved in activities of daily living. ✔️ Although the study primarily focused on the feasibility of the proposed treatment and the prototype platform, the integration of the different devices and software produced promising results regarding effectiveness. Specifically, the ability to combine electrical stimulation with a physiological and natural position of the upper limb led to improved treatment outcomes. It is important to emphasize that the application of artificial intelligence in integrating the different hardware and software components was crucial for enhancing the physiological activation and movement of the upper limb. ✔️ It was also observed that there was an improvement in the performance of the non-affected limb, which is known from the literature to be impaired due to probable involvement of interhemispheric pathways during complex movements and activities. These results give hope for the potential recovery of function in both upper limbs of post-stroke patients. #WorldStrokeDay2024 #stroke #neurorehabilitation

We are pleased to announce that on November 28 and 29, a conference titled “Science, Healthcare Industry, Philanthropy (SHIP) - The Alliance” will be held at the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute and at the Lecco Campus of the Politecnico di Milano, respectively. Please find the program details below. ✔️ The first day, Thursday, November 28, at the newly renovated headquarters of our research and innovation institute, will be dedicated to physiatrists, residents, bioengineers, and physiotherapists. The focus will be on innovation in clinical practice, featuring a series of thematic workshops that will begin with clinical cases and aim to identify rehabilitative strategies that integrate precision robotic technologies, neuromodulation, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Participation in this working day entitles you to receive 8 ECM credits. Please note that spaces are limited. To register, kindly send an email to [email protected]. This event will take place with the patronage of Simfer - Società italiana di Medicina fisica e riabilitativa, #Fit4MedRob and SIRN - Società Italiana di Riabilitazione Neurologica. ✔️ The second day, Friday, November 29, will be held at the Lecco Campus of Politecnico di Milano. The program will focus on the collaboration between philanthropic foundations and scientific research, as well as the partnership between the medical and pharmaceutical industries and universities, with the goal of collaboratively shaping the future of Rehabilitation Medicine. This event will take place thanks to the support of Fondazione Cariplo and with the patronage of Simfer - Società italiana di Medicina fisica e riabilitativa, #Fit4MedRob and SIRN - Società Italiana di Riabilitazione Neurologica. Participation in this working day will also grant you 2.1 ECM credits. This event will be open to everyone, with no restrictions on attendance. #VBRRII #education #neurorehabilitation #MedicalRobotics

A delegation from the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute has just returned from the 52nd National Congress of Simfer - Società italiana di Medicina fisica e riabilitativa. Dr. Silvia Girola, PM&R Specialist, presented a report on cognitive functions in patients with spinal cord injury. Here's a quick recap. ✔️ The acquisition of new skills by these patients can be significantly more complicated when cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and abstract reasoning are impaired, along with emotional dysfunctions like stress, anxiety, depression, and difficulties in body perception. How do these cognitive deficits evolve following specific training? Could this represent a new frontier in rehabilitative care? ✔️ The study involved 35 patients with spinal cord injury, with an average age of 49.5 years and an average duration of 28.2 between the initial injury and neuropsychological assessment. Amon these patients, 8 had a complete injury, while 27 had an incomplete injury. The subjects exhibited isolated attentional deficits, which may be attributed to pre-existing attentional deficiencies, hospitalization - often associated with reduced cognitive stimuli—and the extensive use of medications that directly affect the Central Nervous System. ✔️ All participants demonstrated a positive response to cognitive training. Finally, preliminary data on the state of “flow” were presented, suggesting that the transition from one rehabilitative step to the next is generally well accepted by patients and characterized by a strong sense of self-awareness within the challenging condition proposed. #SpinalCordInjury #NeuroRehabilitation #ScientificResearch #VBRRII

Neuromodulation plays a significant role in Rehabilitation Medicine, particularly in the treatment of individuals with spinal cord injuries. The presence of a biomedical engineer in the medical team is essential to ensure the efficacy of the treatment. Eleonora Guanziroli, head of our Bioengineering Department, explains why in this video pill. https://lnkd.in/dMFakjY4 #RehabilitationMedicine #Neuromodulation #SpinalCordInjury

Sunday marked World Physiotherapy Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the vital role of physiotherapists in promoting health and well-being. For us, it provided an opportunity to engage in a conversation with Luca Colombo, the coordinator of physiotherapists at the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute. We discussed how this profession has evolved in response to significant technological advancements innovation in Rehabilitation Medicine. Here’s what we learned. ✔ The physiotherapist must ‘chew’ a bit of technology. The initial setup of devices is always the responsibility of bioengineers, based on the physician’s prescriptions. However, the ongoing use of this equipment should encourage the physiotherapist to deepen their understanding of the technology, to the extent that they can independently modify some parameters. For instance, when utilizing electrostimulation, the physiotherapist should be capable of adjusting the position of the electrodes or the intensity of the current, tailoring these settings to the patient’s rehabilitation journey. ✔ Never forget that patient feedback is essential. If a relationship of trust is not established between the patient and the technology, it is unlikely to yield the desired results. It is the physiotherapist’s responsibility to determine wether the patient has confidence in the device, and thus, attentive listening and observation remain fundamental. ✔ Where can one acquire all this knowledge? Unfortunately, it is not typically taught at universities and often not even during internships at various healthcare facilities. Currently, the only opportunity for a physiotherapist to develop technological expertise is within a neurorehabilitation center that emphasizes a high rate of technological innovation. #WorldPhysiotherapyDay #Neurorehabilitation #PhysicalTherapy #Rehabilitation

All of us at the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute would like to extend our best wishes to Italian sprinter Ambra Sabatini. After her debut as the flag bearer at the Paralympic Games, she will compete in the 100 meters (category T63) tomorrow, Saturday, September 7. ✔ Ambra, who underwent an amputation above the left knee at the age of 17 due to a scooter accident, swiftly regained control of her life through her passion for athletics. She won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and at the 2023 World Championships in Paris, where she also set a world record in her event. ✔ Something else makes her special. Last January, Ambra captured our hearts with her smile while undergoing multimodal monitoring of various biological parameters, including heart rate and blood pressure, in our laboratories. This monitoring aimed to assess her autonomic system’s response to stress and tension. ✔ Additionally, we worked on imagination and movement planning. As demonstrated in this video, we employed a technology that, akin to a funhouse mirror, inverted the movement of Ambra's healthy leg and applied it to her amputated limb. ✔ Go Ambra! Tomorrow, we will all be with you!  Watch live on RAI 2 DH: semifinal at 11:27 AM and final at 9:22 PM. https://lnkd.in/dC3AZxY4 #Paralympics #Paris2024 #AdaptiveSports #Inclusion

All of us at the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute would like to extend our best wishes to Italian sprinter Ambra Sabatini. After her debut as the flag bearer at the Paralympic Games, she will compete in the 100 meters (category T63) tomorrow, Saturday, September 7. ✔ Ambra, who underwent an amputation above the left knee at the age of 17 due to a scooter accident, swiftly regained control of her life through her passion for athletics. She won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and at the 2023 World Championships in Paris, where she also set a world record in her event. ✔ Something else makes her special. Last January, Ambra captured our hearts with her smile while undergoing multimodal monitoring of various biological parameters, including heart rate and blood pressure, in our laboratories. This monitoring aimed to assess her autonomic system’s response to stress and tension. ✔ Additionally, we worked on imagination and movement planning. As you can see in this video, we employed a technology that, akin to a funhouse mirror, inverted the movement of Ambra's healthy leg and applied it to her amputated limb. ✔ Go Ambra! Tomorrow, we will all be with you!  Watch live on RAI 2 DH: semifinal at 11:27 AM and final at 9:22 PM. https://lnkd.in/dbFmewqA #Paralympics #Paris2024 #AdaptiveSports #Inclusion

Andrei Krassioukov is a Professor and Endowed Chair of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He is a pioneer in the treatment of spinal cord injuries and has over 20 years of experience in the Paralympic Games. In this interview, he explores the role of physiatrists in preparing athletes. ✔ When Professor Krassioukov observes individuals with disabilities he considers not only the visible physical disability, but also the often-overlooked invisible disabilities that can pose challenges for them, as these conditions may interfere with their performance. Cardiovascular dysfunctions and urinary bladder dysfunctions are among these challenges. ✔ However, there is something else that significantly influences athletes’ performances and must be considered by future members of the Paralympic Committee when determining how to classify athletes at the Paralympics. To discover what it is and to watch the full interview, click here: https://lnkd.in/d7VCJRPk #Paralympics #Paris2024 #AdaptiveSports #Inclusion

With the Paralympic Games now underway, the focus is on sports practiced by people with disabilities. While sports can hold competitive value, as demonstrated by the athletes competing in the events in Paris, they often represent much more than just an opportunity for comparison. Our conviction in this belief has deepened after observing five persons with complete spinal cord injury as part of a research project conducted in collaboration with the team from the Politecnico di Milano, titled Fes-Bike. ✔ For six months, our athletes have trained twice a week on recumbent trikes, utilizing functional electrical stimulation to assist with pedaling. Today, two of them are preparing for CYBATHLON, an international competition where individuals with physical disabilities compete using advanced assistive technologies. ✔ But what have we observed over these past months? “There has been significant involvement in all phases of the research, with some athletes even participating in the design of the trike” said Emilia Ambrosini, Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano. “We began this work during the sub-acute phase of these patients, as they returned home. It was truly remarkable to witness their rebirth into a new life - one that is undoubtedly different, yet still filled with the essence of life”. ✔ “From a clinical perspective, we have observed an increase in muscle trophism and a reduction in bone degeneration due to osteoporosis, which is one of the most common consequences of spinal cord injury” stated Franco Molteni, Clinical Director of the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute. “But above all, we have noted that participation in sports has led to a significant improvement in the quality of life for these individuals. These are critical issues that my colleague Francois Genet also addresses, as he oversees the health of all the athletes competing in these Paralympic Games. To François and to all of them, I extend my best wishes for the upcoming competitions”. #Paralympics #Paris2024 #Disability #ChangeStartsWithSport #NeuroRehabilitation

Why is it important to study the bone structure in patients with spinal cord injury? Dr. Franco Molteni, Clinical Director of the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute, answers this crucial question in a new video pill. ✔ Do you agree with him? Please let us know your opinion in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/eUs-3-uw #VBRRII #SpinalCordInjury #NeuroRehabilitation