LAMoBiR - Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory

LAMoBiR (Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Bioengineering) is a research and clinical-translation laboratory based at the IRCCS “Santa Maria Nascente” center of the Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan, Italy. It is a reference hub for quantitative movement analysis and technology-driven neurorehabilitation, integrating engineering, clinical neurology, and physiotherapy. 

Key facts

• Location: Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy 

• Host institution: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, “S. Maria Nascente” center 

• Focus areas: Movement analysis, rehabilitation bioengineering, wearable/robotic rehab technologies 

• Head of lab: Maurizio Ferrarin, rehabilitation engineer and motion-analysis specialist 

• Activities: Research, clinical application, and training in advanced rehabilitation tech 

Background and mission

LAMoBiR consolidates the legacy of a bioengineering center created in 1976 through collaboration between Fondazione Don Gnocchi and Politecnico di Milano, aimed at interdisciplinary biomedical technology research. Its mission is to develop and clinically apply advanced technologies that improve diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome assessment in rehabilitation, especially for neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiorespiratory disorders. 

Research focus and methodologies

The lab specializes in instrumented assessment of motor, cognitive, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions. This includes 3D gait and posture analysis, upper-limb kinematics, surface EMG, cardiopulmonary monitoring, and inertial-sensor-based tests such as instrumented six-minute walk tests. Its work often combines motion capture, wearable IMUs, force platforms, and advanced signal processing and machine-learning approaches to characterize movement and fatigue, both in healthy subjects and clinical populations (e.g., stroke, neuropathies). 

Technology development and clinical translation

Beyond measurement, LAMoBiR designs software and devices for rehabilitation, such as biofeedback systems, robotic and electromechanical trainers, functional electrical stimulation (FES) tools, orthoses and prostheses, and wearable sensors for home or community monitoring. These technologies are used directly in clinical workflows at Don Gnocchi centers, enabling personalized therapy, objective tracking of progress, and large datasets for outcome research. 

Education, collaboration, and impact

The laboratory is involved in training clinicians, therapists, and engineers through internships, theses, and collaborations with universities, and participates in multi-center research projects (e.g., EU-funded rehabilitation-technology initiatives). Its datasets and methods are disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, including open datasets on gait and upper-limb movement, contributing to international standards and best practices in quantitative rehabilitation.