Fit4MedRob
Fit4MedRob
Fit For Medical Robotics
Fit for Medical Robotics (Fit4MedRob) Fit for Medical Robotics aims to transform the way people with motor, sensory, or cognitive impairments are treated and rehabilitated. Its goal is to make more effective use of emerging robotic and digital technologies to support individuals throughout the entire continuum of care: from prevention to the acute phase following illness or trauma, and through to home-based rehabilitation in the more advanced stages. The project starts by listening to the real needs of patients and healthcare professionals and develops concrete solutions through multicenter clinical studies involving professionals from different disciplines. The idea is to overcome the limitations of current technologies, which are often not yet sufficiently widespread or adaptable, and to pave the way for a new generation of robotic devices that are more useful, accessible, and sustainable. Fit for Medical Robotics also works to create the organizational and regulatory conditions necessary for these innovations to be effectively integrated into everyday clinical practice, improving the quality of care and people’s quality of life over the long term. Fit for Medical Robotics is funded by the National Complementary Plan, PNC-I.1.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Sulrro
Upper limb rehabilitation in post-stroke patients using robotic devices: a synergistic approach to assess human-robot interaction and the effects of rehabilitative intervention
Abstract
The study aims to improve the assessment of motor recovery in patients undergoing rehabilitation. At present, clinical scales and motion analysis are the main tools used, and while they are valuable, they are not always sensitive enough to detect more subtle changes. The project focuses on the analysis of muscle synergies, that is, the way muscles work together to produce movement, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the nervous system organizes motor actions. The study examines these synergies during interaction with robotic devices and evaluates how they change after a cycle of robotic rehabilitation, with the goal of obtaining more objective and precise measures of recovery.
Sulrro is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
IIT_REHAB_NeBULAS
Neuromechanical characterization of upper limb movement in post-stroke patients
Abstract
The study analyzes how the arm moves after stroke by comparing healthy individuals and post-stroke patients during standardized movements. By measuring muscular, brain, and motion signals, both during free movement and with the support of an exoskeleton, the project aims to understand how robotic devices influence motor control and how they can be used to improve personalized rehabilitation pathways.
IIT_REHAB_NeBULAS is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
Shaja
Post-stroke gait rehabilitation using a unilateral hip exoskeleton: functional and biomedical outcomes
Abstract
The study evaluates the use of Shaja, a lightweight and portable hip exoskeleton designed to help people with the effects of stroke improve their walking ability. The project analyzes whether training with Shaja is safe and effective in improving gait speed and endurance compared with conventional rehabilitation, and whether it also has positive short-term effects on balance, movement, muscle activity, and motor control.
Shaja is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
ONGOING PROJECTS
CO-BI
A mobile brain/body imaging platform for the assessment and optimization of robotic locomotion treatments in post-stroke patients
Abstract
The study was designed with the aim of improving gait rehabilitation in people with the effects of stroke by using a mobile brain and body imaging platform together with a next-generation robotic exoskeleton. At the center of the study is Wandercraft Atalante, the world’s first cobot that enables people with central nervous system injuries to walk hands-free, without relying on crutches or walkers. This collaborative exoskeleton does not simply move the patient’s legs passively but works together with the individual: through personalized programming, it helps transform movement intention into actual movement. It is equipped with 12 active motors at the hip, knee, and ankle, allowing autonomous walking with free arms and a more natural gait pattern. The aim of the study is to evaluate and optimize robotic locomotion treatments by analyzing, in an integrated way, what happens in the body and in the brain during the use of the exoskeleton. Thanks to the imaging platform, it will be possible to collect data on movement, muscle activation, and brain activity, in order to better understand how the nervous system responds to robotic rehabilitation. In this way, the project aims not only to improve walking ability, but also to deepen understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying recovery, to make treatments increasingly effective.
CO-BI is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
IIT_ iFeel
Comparative study design: iFeel technology vs. Motion Analysis Systems on healthy and post-stroke subjects with hemiparesis
Abstract
The study compares a new wearable technology, called iFeel, with traditional motion analysis systems in order to assess how people move, both in healthy individuals and in patients who have experienced a stroke. Thanks to body-mounted sensors, iFeel makes it possible to monitor movement, physical effort, and fatigue in real time, even over extended periods, providing clinicians with more comprehensive and useful information to personalize rehabilitation pathways.
IIT_iFeel is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
Carol
Haptic ankle devices for gait cadence regulation
Abstract
The study explores the use of vibrating ankle bands to help people who have experienced a stroke improve their walking ability. The vibrations provide sensory feedback to the legs, helping regulate step rhythm and making gait smoother, more efficient, and more natural. The objective is to improve walking autonomy and support greater independence in daily life.
Carol is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
hThimble
Acute Effect of Single Session Multimodal Haptic Stimulation in Post-Stroke Paretic Hand Recovery
Abstract
The study evaluates whether a single session of combined sensory stimulation (heat/cold and vibration) applied to the hand affected by stroke can lead to an immediate improvement in hand function. The objective is to “prepare” the brain to respond better to motor therapy, promoting brain plasticity and accelerating movement recovery.
hThimble is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
FM_RRehab
Functional Movement Robotic Rehabilitation
Abstract
The study investigates how to make robotic upper-limb rehabilitation more effective in people affected by stroke. In particular, it evaluates whether robot-assisted three-dimensional functional exercises, tailored to the patient’s individual needs, can truly improve motor recovery. The study also analyzes brain signals (EEG) during the exercises to determine whether certain indicators of brain function may help predict which patients are more likely to respond positively to therapy.
FM_RRehab is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
Virtual Park – Adults
Evaluation of the impact of a rehabilitation intervention based on cycling with Virtual Park on training motivation in adult patients
Abstract
The study evaluates whether training while pedaling in a virtual reality environment can make rehabilitation more engaging. The Virtual Park system combines physical exercise and cognitive activities in a game-based format, with the aim of stimulating attention, memory, and concentration. The study is intended for people with the effects of stroke, as well as for individuals with other neurological conditions, and seeks to determine whether this innovative approach can help patients participate more actively in their rehabilitation pathway.
Virtual Park – Adults is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
Built
Efficacy and Neurophysiological Correlates of Bilateral Robotic Treatment for the Upper Limbs in Patients with Chronic Stroke Sequelae
Abstract
The study explores the effectiveness of robotic rehabilitation involving both arms in people with chronic stroke. It investigates whether the dominant hand and the side affected by the stroke influence recovery outcomes. Using a bimanual exoskeleton and virtual reality, the study examines both functional improvements in arm performance and changes in brain activity, in order to understand how the brain reorganizes itself during recovery and which patients may benefit most from this type of treatment.
Built is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
SmartAnkle RedBlue
Modular system for the evaluation and treatment of the tibio-tarsal joint in post-stroke patients
Abstract
The study evaluates a modular robotic device for ankle rehabilitation in people with the effects of stroke. It investigates whether the use of the SmartAnkle system can improve ankle movement, strength, balance, and independence in daily life, both in the early stages and in the more advanced phases after stroke. The study also examines how this type of treatment may support brain recovery by exploring the mechanisms of brain plasticity associated with rehabilitation.
SmartAnkle RedBlue is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
Fit4TELENeuro
Fit4TELENeuro
Abstract
The study evaluates the effectiveness of telerehabilitation for individuals with chronic neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, who often face challenges accessing traditional rehabilitation services. The project compares two different personalized remote rehabilitation programs conducted at home to determine whether they are more effective than standard care in improving physical abilities and quality of life. It also aims to ensure timely and continuous interventions outside the hospital setting.
Fit4TELENeuro is a sub-project of Fit4MedRob.
