Triolo, Ronald, Ph.D.

Research Statement

My research interests are in the areas of rehabilitation engineering, biomechanics of human movement, posture and locomotion, pressure sore prevention and seated reach. In particular, I am investigating the application of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for standing, transfers in and out of the wheelchair, stepping and seated trunk control in persons with spinal cord injuries.

Professional Affiliations

  • Investigator, Cleveland FES Center
  • Executive Director, Advanced Platform Technology (APT Center)
  • Director, Motion Study Laboratory, and Senior Research Career Scientist, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center,Cleveland, OH
  • Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
  • Bioscientific Staff, Department of Orthopaedics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Publications (Select)

    • Schiefer MA, Polasek KH, Triolo RJ, Pinault GC, Tyler DJ. Selective stimulation of the human femoral nerve with a flat interface nerve electrode. J Neural Eng. 2010 Mar 8;7(2):26006. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 20208125.
    • Gustafson KJ, Pinault GC, Neville JJ, Syed I, Davis JA Jr, Jean-Claude J, Triolo RJ. Fascicular anatomy of human femoral nerve: implications for neural prostheses using nerve cuff electrodes. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(7):973-84. PubMed PMID: 20104420. 
    • Schiefer MA, Polasek KH, Triolo RJ, Pinault GC, Tyler DJ. Intraoperative demonstration of selective stimulation of the common human femoral nerve with a FINE. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:610-3. PubMed PMID: 19963718. 
    • Polasek KH, Schiefer MA, Pinault GC, Triolo RJ, Tyler DJ. Intraoperative evaluation of the spiral nerve cuff electrode on the femoral nerve trunk. J Neural Eng. 2009 Dec;6(6):066005. Epub 2009 Nov 9. PubMed PMID: 19901448. 
    • Lambrecht JM, Audu ML, Triolo RJ, Kirsch RF. Musculoskeletal model of trunk and hips for development of seated-posture-control neuroprosthesis. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(4):515-28. PubMed PMID: 19882486.
    • Kobetic R, To CS, Schnellenberger JR, Audu ML, Bulea TC, Gaudio R, Pinault G,  Tashman S, Triolo RJ. Development of hybrid orthosis for standing, walking, and stair climbing after spinal cord injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(3):447-62. PubMed PMID: 19675995. 
    • Dutta A, Kobetic R, Triolo RJ. Gait initiation with electromyographically triggered electrical stimulation in people with partial paralysis. J Biomech Eng. 2009 Aug;131(8):081002. PubMed PMID: 19604014. 
    • Fisher LE, Tyler DJ, Anderson JS, Triolo RJ. Chronic stability and selectivity of four-contact spiral nerve-cuff electrodes in stimulating the human femoral nerve. J Neural Eng. 2009 Aug;6(4):046010. Epub 2009 Jul 15. PubMed PMID: 19602729.
    • Triolo RJ, Boggs L, Miller ME, Nemunaitis G, Nagy J, Bailey SN. Implanted electrical stimulation of the trunk for seated postural stability and function after cervical spinal cord injury: a single case study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Feb;90(2):340-7. PubMed PMID: 19236990; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2648134. 

    Research Programs

    Contact Information   

    Contact Name: Laura Polacek
    Contact Number: (216)778-3480
    Contact Email: lkp3@case.edu, rxt24@case.edu