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About

Rita Bertoni is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, specializing in robotic and technology-assisted therapies for upper limb recovery in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke. Her work focuses on developing and comparing innovative protocols that integrate haptic feedback, sensorimotor training, and task-oriented approaches to restore arm function and improve daily-life activities. Bertoni’s key contributions include pioneering studies on robot-based rehabilitation, such as her 2012 pilot study (75 citations) comparing reaching tasks with or without manipulative components in MS patients, and a 2020 randomized controlled trial (58 citations) examining the effects of robot therapy on upper body kinematics post-stroke. She has also explored the sequential application of myoelectrically controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) combined with robotic therapy for stroke recovery (13 citations). Her notable work includes developing a tailored virtual tool manipulation exercise to address cerebellar and motor symptoms in MS (2011, 9 citations). With over 170 total citations, Bertoni’s research has significantly advanced understanding of how robotic and haptic interventions can enhance motor strategies and functional outcomes, making her a key figure in rehabilitation engineering and neurorecovery.