Maria Fiammetta Romano

About

Maria Fiammetta Romano is a leading researcher in rehabilitation robotics and bioengineering, with a focus on developing innovative technologies for motor recovery. Her work centers on robotic and proprioceptive rehabilitation, particularly for upper limb disorders, where she has pioneered methods to quantify movement patterns and enhance therapeutic outcomes. Romano’s major contributions include the design and characterization of a controllable-compliance joint for robotic exoskeletons, enabling “assist-as-needed” rehabilitation—a strategy that adapts robotic support to a patient’s real-time performance, promoting active participation and recovery. Her research, conducted at the Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, has yielded highly cited papers, such as her 2015 work on bioengineering activities in rehabilitation (14 citations) and her 2016 kinematic analysis of robot-assisted reaching movements (8 citations). Notably, her 2020 study on compliant exoskeleton joints (7 citations) showcases her commitment to translating engineering principles into clinical practice. With a cumulative impact of nearly 30 citations across her top papers, Romano’s work is shaping the future of personalized, data-driven rehabilitation, offering new hope for patients with neurological or orthopedic impairments.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Bioengineering activities in proprioceptive and robotic rehabilitation at Salvatore Maugeri Foundation

   14 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Analysis of reaching movements of upper arm in robot assisted exercises. Kinematic assessment of robot assisted upper arm reaching single-joint movements.

   8 citations · 2016
3. 3
   Design, realization and experimental characterisation of a controllable-compliance joint of a robotic exoskeleton for assist-as-needed rehabilitation

   7 citations · 2020

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links