In the era of digital medicine: Using technologies to restore functional movement in neurological patients. #Walking over disabilities

Abstract

1 *Address for correspondence: Dr. Paolo Milia, Prosperius Institute, Neurorehabilitation and Robotic Area, University of Perugia, Umbertide, Perugia, Italy. E‐mail: paolo.milia@prosperiustiberino.it The recovery of patients affected by central nervous system (CNS) lesion is like a learning process exploiting preserved sensorimotor circuits. The best recovery is related by providing appropriate proprioceptive input to the spinal cord with the goal of maximally engaging preserved neural circuits. The extent of recovery depends on the severity of CNS damage and the individual capacity of a patient to regain a function.[2] Cognition and motivation are important contributors to this learning and must, therefore, be considered during rehabilitation. However, first of all, we need to understand that the goal of rehabilitation is not exclusively to reestablish “normal” movement patterns but to enable well-organized movements to achieve optimal outcome in mobility and independence during activities of daily living (ADL) for the individual patient.[3] “Lo scopo dell’arte medica è la salute, il fine ottenerla”