Science and sport, this is how artificial intelligence embraces rehabilitation programs

It took place in Turin at the Riba Rehabilitation Institutethe event that is now renewed every year, dedicated to the different aspects of the relationship between science, medicine and sport. This year the conference touched on one of the hottest and most complex topics of the moment, the interpretation and practice of medicine associated with the development of artificial intelligence. The Irr, as in the past, had the strength to anticipate the times, quickly transforming itself into a crossroads of science, sport and medicine. Effectively becoming a laboratory of innovation in rehabilitation programs that experiment with AI.

At times the story of Davide Croce, adjunct professor of management engineering, director of the research center on economics and management in health and social care, at the Carlo Cattaneo University – LIUC: “Deloitte said it had increased productivity by 30% thanks to artificial intelligence. But this is only a basic consideration, of pure statistics and analysis of the potential for development in the workplace. The Bergamo hospital already uses artificial intelligence in the clinical part. Algorithms intervene in statistical analysis. Medicine and patient care in the pre- and post-operative phase today represent a field on which the potential of AI can be concentrated. Of course, we need a specific regulation and protocol on medical devices. Thinking precisely about this center, an Israeli application on rehabilitation comes to mind: it takes 117 points of the body and through a camera gives indications on the correct physiotherapy path. But let’s be clear, without the human support, of the doctor, of the rehabilitation specialist itself, this type of progress remains cold and an end in itself.”

The intervention of the professor Fabio Pigozzipresident of the International Federation of Sports Medicine and president of Nado Italia: “Over the years we have witnessed a great development in wearable technologies, which have certainly helped to coagulate sports practice and the need to keep health parameters under control. In this sense, AI can undoubtedly help the analysis of data coming from wearable technology. But today we must ask ourselves what the developments of AI could be in the sports and medical fields. Starting from the analysis of performance and injury prevention, to rehabilitation programs that adapt to the progress of the individual patient. Today, AI is already used in the field of diagnostics and treatment optimization. In the dermatology field it is already trained in precise image datasets. It is also applied in an already advanced form in the cardiac field. But it is above all on genetics that we are working and awaiting the most important developments. Today, artificial intelligence can be used for target testing and can certainly become decisive in the analysis of data cross-referenced with the biological passport.”

Ugo Ribageneral director and sole administrator of the Cidimu-Riba SPA Institutes, strongly supported this conference which effectively opens the doors to a new way of designing the perimeter of rehabilitation: “We have witnessed a sensational improvement in the use of magnetic resonance imaging. In addition to guaranteeing a reduction in image production times, this type of approach in their use has also proven decisive in the relationship with patients. The trials are continuing: we are also focused on mammograms where reporting times are still a little long.”

Joseph Massazzafull professor at the University of Turin as well as director of the School of Specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chief Medical Officer of the Milan Cortina 2026 Games after his experience twenty years earlier as director of the Medical Services of the Turin Winter Olympics , titles aside, he is considered a precursor in the field of applying technology to rehabilitation protocols: “We were tied to a musculoskeletal basis consideration. Seventeen years ago we imagined a new way of understanding this work on the patient. When we decided to believe in our way of seeing this type of application of medicine, there was nothing here. But with the genius that I recognize in Dr. Ugo Riba, we decided to believe in progress, in modernity, in the future of rehabilitation. There should be no confusion between the use of computers, data and now Artificial Intelligence and the need for a human approach to medicine. We cannot escape the centrality of the analyzes carried out by the doctor, who must make AI an exceptional support tool. Today a process starts which in 2026 will take us to the congress of Italian physiatrists: Rehabilitation medicine and physics: predicting to prevent to better intervene. With artificial intelligence. We must not be surprised by the future.”

Enrico Frascari, Technology Innovation Ambassador who has been collaborating with Prof. Massazza in the field of advanced technologies since 2006 was the protagonist of a unique story: “In reality, artificial intelligence was talked about sixty years ago when the term was coined. But it is in the last two years that we have witnessed a real boom. The main development was that of the CPU, Central Process Unit. But the turning point was Nvidia’s GPU. The future is moving towards a horizon in which it will be necessary to increase the efficiency of machines through human management. A combination that I consider essential, today but also tomorrow. The real problem, however, is the energy use of data centers which produce heat and suck energy. Microsoft has decided to reactivate the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. Google is also going nuclear. We think about AI but the challenge once again seems to be that of energy.”

Luigi Molinospecialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation and medical director of the IRR, is the man who sees first-hand the possibility of combining artificial intelligence and the use of the machines made available to the IRR: “We are trying to use AI on specific aspects of operation of our rehabilitation work. Today we are provided with objective data, which are not an end in themselves but essential to improve the relationship with the patient and his recovery programs”. It’s just the beginning of the relationship between medicine and artificial intelligence. An important page in this history is already being written in Turin.