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About

Emanuela Casanova is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, specializing in the application of robotic and electromechanical technologies for upper limb recovery after neurological injury. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between research evidence and clinical practice, particularly for stroke survivors, individuals with cervical spinal cord injury, and patients with multiple sclerosis. Casanova’s major contributions include comprehensive systematic reviews and evidence syntheses that evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted arm therapy (RAT). Her 2021 systematic review of guidelines for upper limb robotic rehabilitation after stroke, with 56 citations, provides critical recommendations for clinical implementation. She also led an overview of systematic reviews on RAT in stroke rehabilitation (21 citations) and an evidence-based review of its applications in multiple sclerosis (15 citations). Notably, Casanova contributed to the methodology for the CICERONE Italian Consensus Conference, a landmark effort to standardize evidence synthesis for robot-assisted therapy across neurological conditions. Her research also explores the cognitive benefits of robotic upper limb treatment, highlighting its potential to promote neuroplasticity beyond motor recovery. With over 148 total citations across her most-cited works, Casanova is shaping the future of technology-driven neurorehabilitation.