Massimiliano Rea

Papers

Total Citations

580

H-Index

About

Massimiliano Rea is a leading figure in neurorehabilitation, with a primary focus on restoring motor function after neurological injury. His work is distinguished by a pioneering "top-down" approach to gait rehabilitation, which prioritizes the role of the central nervous system in driving recovery. This paradigm is most famously articulated in his highly influential 2011 review, "Rehabilitation of gait after stroke: a review towards a top-down approach," which has amassed over 580 citations. In this seminal work, Rea critically examined conventional therapies and proposed a transformative integration of assistive robotic devices and brain-computer interfaces, arguing that rehabilitation should be actively guided by the patient's own neural intent rather than passive, bottom-up techniques. This review has become a cornerstone reference for researchers and clinicians, shaping the design of modern neuroprosthetics and closed-loop rehabilitation systems. By bridging engineering, neuroscience, and clinical practice, Rea's contributions continue to drive innovation in stroke recovery, offering new hope for restoring independent mobility.