Andrea Crema

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Andrea Crema’s research lies at the intersection of neurorehabilitation, assistive robotics, and neuromuscular engineering, with a primary focus on restoring upper limb function in stroke survivors. Her most impactful work, a 2022 study with 45 citations, demonstrates that neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can restore not only sensory-motor functions but also the brain’s representation of the affected limb in chronic stroke patients—a breakthrough linking physical recovery with neural plasticity. Crema pioneered hybrid rehabilitation systems that integrate NMES with robotic exoskeletons, such as the ArmeoFES (2011) and a later hybrid NMES-exoskeleton for real-object interaction (2015). These innovations address a critical clinical gap: providing coordinated, assist-as-needed support for both reaching and grasping, which are typically treated separately. Her work has practical implications for intensive, repetitive rehabilitation protocols, offering clinicians a unified tool to restore meaningful interaction with real-world objects. With cumulative citations exceeding 60, Crema’s contributions are shaping the next generation of neuroprosthetic and robotic therapies, bridging engineering precision with patient-centered recovery.