Isabelle Lessard
Papers
1
Total Citations
31
H-Index
1
About
Isabelle Lessard is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of movement science, neurological rehabilitation, and virtual reality. Her primary research focuses on the assessment and characterization of upper limb coordination in individuals with rare neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS). In her highly cited pilot study, "The Virtual Peg Insertion Test as an assessment of upper limb coordination in ARSACS patients," Lessard pioneered the use of a virtual reality-based motor task to objectively quantify fine motor deficits. This work, which has garnered 31 citations, demonstrated that immersive, gamified assessments could capture subtle coordination impairments that traditional clinical scales might miss. By bridging the gap between ecological motor tasks and controlled laboratory measurement, Lessard provided a novel, sensitive tool for tracking disease progression and evaluating therapeutic interventions. Her contributions have been instrumental in advancing the use of digital biomarkers in rare disease research, offering both clinicians and patients a more precise window into motor function. Lessard’s work continues to inspire the integration of technology into neurorehabilitation, making her a key figure in the movement toward personalized, data-driven care for complex neurological conditions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1