Federica Rizzo

Dr. Federica Rizzo

Scienze Psicologiche, Pedagogiche, dell’Esercizio Fisico e della Formazione

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 September 2022 in European Journal of Translational Myology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Giuseppe MessinaGiuseppe Messina
Giuseppe Messina
Alessandra AmatoAlessandra Amato
Alessandra Amato
AAAnna Alioto
Anna Alioto
RSRoberta Stallone
Roberta Stallone
FRFederica Rizzo
Federica Rizzo
Patrizia ProiaPatrizia Proia
Patrizia Proia
In multiple sclerosis patients (MS), symptoms such as fatigue, lack of physical energy, spasticity, motor coordination disorders, tremors, dizziness and postural instability are most common. Cattaneo et al. (2007) studied the effects of stability training on MS patients, describing its efficacy in reducing all risks, by improving stability, and strength. The present study aimed to confirm our 2021 results on MS patients, combining the Taopatch® device with a proprioceptive rehabilitation protocol (PRP) targeting strength, balance, and biochemical parameters including vitamin D levels. Twenty MS patients, 8 males and 12 females, volunteered in the study. A KERN MAP Version 1.2 08/2012, Hand Grip Dynamometer was used to determine handgrip strength, whilst baropodometric and stabilometric measurements were assessed using the Sensor Medica® systems. The proprioceptive rehabilitation protocol included: 10 minutes of Motomed; 10 minutes of Human Tecar proprioceptive path; 15 minutes of physical exercises; and 15 minutes of massage therapy of whole spine. All patients wore the Taopatch photo emission devices (Tao Technologies), applied with the protocol of Carbonari B, et al. (2021) Testing procedures and blood sampling were carried out before and after the rehabilitation protocol. The paired sample t-test revealed statistically significant improvements for the baropodometric measures (p<0.05). In addition, the intervention induced a statistically significant improvement in the right (p = 0.023) and left (p = 0.021) handgrip strength. We didn’t highlighted any statistically significant variation in hemathological parameters, but an increasing trend of vitamin D levels was detected. Combination of an adequate and specific rehabilitation protocol with application of Taopatch®, a photon emission device, improved handgrip strength of the upper limbs, rebalanced body structure decompensated in MS patients and also acting on vitamin D levels. In conclusion, Taopatch® is a supportive therapy for home-based PRP intervention, inducing an improvement in the quality of life and reducing spasticity associated with the disease.

Giuseppe MessinaGiuseppe Messina
Giuseppe Messina
Alessandra AmatoAlessandra Amato
Alessandra Amato
FRFederica Rizzo
Federica Rizzo
Ligia DominguezLigia Dominguez
Ligia Dominguez
AIAngelo Iovane
Angelo Iovane
Patrizia ProiaPatrizia Proia
Patrizia Proia
The association between craniofacial muscles and postural control is well-known because of numerous anatomical connections. However, there are a few conflicting studies that correlated the activity of the masticatory muscles with the distribution of body weight pressure on the feet, which can strongly influence balance. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between the masseter and temporalis muscle activity and foot pressure distribution. Fifty-two women were recruited, and baropodometric and EMG analyses of the masseter and temporalis baseline activities were analyzed. An ipsilateral association was found between the right temporal muscle activity and the right rearfoot load (r = 0.29, p < 0.05) and right forefoot load (r = −0.29; p < 0.05), as well as the percentage of muscle activation of the right masseter muscles with the percentage of pressure on the right forefoot (r = 0.31, p < 0.05) and right rearfoot (r = −0.31, p < 0.05). While further studies are needed, an ipsilateral association was found between masticatory muscles and foot pressure distribution.

Luca PetrignaLuca Petrigna
Luca Petrigna
Ewan ThomasEwan Thomas
Ewan Thomas
ASAntonino Scardina
Antonino Scardina
FRFederica Rizzo
Federica Rizzo
JBJessica Brusa
Jessica Brusa
Marianna BellafioreMarianna Bellafiore
Marianna Bellafiore
Background: Education is the ideal setting for carrying out projects to improve primary students’ capacities. In recent years, interventions in natural environments have been more frequently proposed, but there is still a lack of standardization, making deeper study of the topic necessary. This review aims to report on what previous scientific research has been carried out, and eventually, to propose standard operating procedures for future interventions. Methods: This is a scoping review that adopted the PRISMA guidelines. Primary school children have been included, and the interventions had to be proposed adopting nature as the primary element of the learning process. Results: A total of 19 studies have been included, and a wide range of methodological differences has been detected regarding the included intervention protocols. Conclusions: Learning in nature is a feasible intervention that, despite the high heterogeneity of interventions, demonstrates positive outcomes in the learning sphere of children.