Dr. Martina Spiess

Personal profile

Position at the ZHAW

Senior Research Associate and Lecturer

www.zhaw.ch/de/gesundheit/forschung/ergotherapie/

Expertise and research interests

As a rehabilitation scientist, I am interested in the application of new technologies in rehabilitation, especially in how they can be optimally used to achieve the best possible results for clients.

Educational background

EDUCATION:

University of Florida
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Rehabilitation Sciences · (2008 - 2012)

Universities of Zurich and Maastricht (Joint Program)
MPTSc, Physical Therapy Science · (2002 - 2005)

Physiotherapy School Leukerbad
Certified Physical Therapist (Swiss Red Cross) · (1996 - 2001)

CONTINUED EDUCATION:

buk - Education for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Attended 6 modules on augmentative and alternative communication of 14 contact hours each (2022-2023)

ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Learning (12 ECTS)

edX / IBM AI and Data Science Program
AI for Everyone: Master the Basics (2021)

edX / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online Learning Initiative
Qualitative Research Methods: Analyzing Data (2021)

edX / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online Learning Initiative
Qualitative Research Methods: Conversational Interviewing (2020)

ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Project Management for Researchers (2020)

TÜV Süd
Clinical Evaluation of Medical Products (2016)

University of Florida & NeuroRecovery Network
Locomotor Training Course (2011)

Professional milestones

Hocoma AG
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator (2018-2020)
Clinical Research Coordinator (2014-2017)

Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
Post-Doctoral Researcher (2013-2014)

Balgrist Universitäy Hospital, Zurich
Research Assistant (2005-2008)

Different In-, and Outpatient Settings in Switzerland
Staff Physical Therapist (2001 - 2005)

Membership of networks

• International Industry Society for Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART; President)
• International Consortium on Rehabilitation Technology (Secretary)
• Swiss Network for Digital Medical Regulation (Board Member)

Projects

• Artificial Intelligence for Myoelectrically Controlled Cooperative Arm Prostheses: A proof-of-concept Study / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Technologies for Therapy at a Distance for Individuals With Stroke / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Technologie-unterstütztes Wohnen im Alter / Team member / Project ongoing
• Tele-Assessment: Leveraging Deep Learning to Assess Upper Limb Kinematics after Stroke with Off-the-shelf Webcams / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Linguistic and occupational therapy support for augmentative and alternative communication in young adults / Team member / Project ongoing
• Mobile Inclusion Lab / Project leader / Project completed
• Artificial Intelligence for Myoelectrically Controlled Cooperative Arm Prostheses / Project co-leader / Project completed
• Digital Health for parents facing language and cultural access barriers to the Swiss health system / Team member / Project completed

Publications

• Howland, Dena R.; Trimble, Shelley A.; Fox, Emily J.; Tester, Nicole J.; Spiess, Martina R.; Senesac, Claudia R.; Kleim, Jeffrey A.; Spierre, Louise Z.; Rose, Dorian K.; Johns, Jeffery S.; Ugiliweneza, Beatrice; Reier, Paul J.; Behrman, Andrea L.,

  2023.

  Recovery of walking in nonambulatory children with chronic spinal cord injuries : case series.

  Journal of Neuroscience Research.

  101(6), pp. 826-842.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.25162

• Spiess, Martina Rebekka; Steenbrink, Frans; Esquenazi, Alberto,

  2018.

  Getting the best out of advanced rehabilitation technology for the lower limbs : minding motor learning principles.

  PM & R.

  10(9S2), pp. S165-S173.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.06.007

• Petersen, Jens A.; Spiess, Martina; Curt, Armin; Weidner, Norbert; Rupp, Rüdiger; Abel, Rainer; Schubert, Martin,

  2017.

  Upper limb recovery in spinal cord injury : involvement of central and peripheral motor pathways.

  Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.

  31(5), pp. 432-441.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968316688796

• Spiess, Martina Rebekka; Colombo, Gery,

  2017.

  Intensity : what rehabilitation technology can add to the subject.

  Neurologie & Rehabilitation.

  23(1), pp. 53-56.

• Fox, Emily J.; Tester, Nicole J.; Butera, Katie A.; Howland, Dena R.; Spiess, Martina R.; Castro-Chapman, Paula L.; Behrman, Andrea L.,

  2017.

  Retraining walking adaptability following incomplete spinal cord injury.

  Spinal Cord Series and Cases.

  3(17091).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-017-0003-1

• Tester J., Nicole; Fuller, David D.; Fromm, Jason S.; Spiess, Martina R.; Behrman, Andrea L.; Mateika, Jason H.,

  2014.

  Long-term facilitation of ventilation in humans with chronic spinal cord injury.

  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

  189(1), pp. 57-65.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201305-0848OC

• Petersen, Jens A.; Spiess, Martina; Curt, Armin; Dietz, Volker; Schubert, Martin,

  2012.

  Spinal cord injury : one-year evolution of motor-evoked potentials and recovery of leg motor function in 255 patients.

  Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.

  26(8), pp. 939-948.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968312438437

• Kuhn, Fabian; Halder, Pascal; Spiess, Martina Rebekka; Schubert, Martin,

  2012.

  One-year evolution of ulnar somatosensory potentials after trauma in 365 tetraplegic patients : early prediction of potential upper limb function.

  Journal of Neurotrauma.

  29(10), pp. 1829-1837.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2011.2277

• Schuld, Christian; Wiese, Julia; Hug, Andreas; Putz, Cornelia; van Hedel, Hubertus J. A.; Spiess, Martina R.; Weidner, Norbert; Rupp, Rüdiger,

  2012.

  Computer implementation of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury for consistent and efficient derivation of its subscores including handling of data from not testable segments.

  Journal of Neurotrauma.

  29(3), pp. 453-461.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2011.2085

• Spiess, Martina; Schuld, Christian,

  2011.

  Comment on "Restoration of walking function in an individual with chronic complete (AIS A) spinal cord injury".

  Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.

  43(4), pp. 367-368.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0781

• Spiess, Martina R.; Müller, Roland M.; Rupp, Rüdiger; Schuld, Christian; van Hedel, Hubertus,

  2009.

  Conversion in ASIA impairment scale during the first year after traumatic spinal cord injury.

  Journal of Neurotrauma.

  26(11), pp. 2027-2036.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2008.0760

• Spiess, Martina; Schubert, Martin; Kliesch, Uta; Halder, Pascal,

  2008.

  Evolution of tibial SSEP after traumatic spinal cord injury: baseline for clinical trials.

  Clinical Neurophysiology.

  119(5), pp. 1051-1061.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2008.01.021

• Esquenazi, Alberto; Maier, Irin; Aurich Schuler, Tabea; Beer, Serafin; Borggraefe, Ingo; Campen, Katrin; Luft, Andreas; Manoglu, Dimitrios; Meyer-Heim, Andreas; Spiess, Martina; Wirz, Markus,

  2016.

  Clinical application of robotics and technology in restoration of walking

  .

  In:

  David J., Reinkensmeyer; Volker, Dietz, eds.,

  Neurorehabilitation technology.

  Springer.

  pp. 223-248.

• Arnold, Marlen; Burggraf, Laura; Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  Prosthesis: help or hindrance? : recommendations for occupational therapists regarding children with a unilateral congenital transverse reduction defect distal the elbow [poster].

  In:

  RehabWeek, Singapore, 24-28 September 2023.

• Radu, Irina; Scheermesser, Mandy; Spiess, Martina; Schulze, Christina; Händler-Schuster, Daniela; Pehlke-Milde, Jessica,

  2023.

  Digitale Gesundheitsinterventionen für Migrant:innen und kulturellen Minderheiten : ein Scoping Review [paper].

  In:

  7. Winterthurer Hebammensymposium, Winterthur, Schweiz, 21. Januar 2023.

• Spiess, Martina; Hübscher, Iris; Hohenstein, Christiane; Gantschnig, Brigitte,

  2022.

  Empowering young augmentative and alternative communication-users in their transition into adulthood [poster].

  In:

  RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.

• Touai, Ayoub; Khendek, Kamelia; Bazeille, Stephane; Spiess, Martina; Graf, Eveline; Klamroth - Marganska, Verena; Ould Abdeslam, Djaffar,

  2022.

  Prosthetic hand control with data correlation, ANN and shazam methods for SEMG signals classification [poster].

  In:

  RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.

• Frey, Sara; Spiess, Martina; Graf, Eveline; Ould Abdeslam, Djaffar; Dyer, Linda; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena,

  2022.

  Artificial intelligence controlled cooperative arm prostheses : what do the users say? [poster].

  In:

  RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.

• Graf, Eveline; Touait, Ayoub; Haas, Michelle; Spiess, Martina; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena; Bazeille, Stephane; Ould Abdeslam, Djaffar,

  2022.

  Detecting cooperative hand movements based on electromyographic data : a proof of concept study [poster].

  In:

  RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.

• Spiess, Martina R.; Jaramillo, Jeffrey P.; Behrman, Andrea L.; Teraoka, Jeffrey K.; Patten, Carolynn,

  2012.

  Unexpected recovery after robotic locomotor training at physiologic stepping speed : a single-case design [paper].

  In:

  4th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Ontario, Canada, 28-30 October 2010 and International Society for Posture and Gait Research Conference, Burlington, USA, 14-18 July 2007.

  Elsevier.

  pp. 1476-1484.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.02.030

• Frey, Sara; Haas, Michelle; Graf, Eveline; Ould Abdeslam, Djaffar; Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  AIMAP – Artificial Intelligence Myoelectrical Arm Prothesis : proof of concept study [poster].

  In:

  5th Digital Health Lab Day, Winterthur, Switzerland, 24 August 2023.

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28770

• Sauerzopf, Lena; Luft, Andreas; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena; Spörri, Joshua Jeremias; Krieg, Michael; Baldissera, Anna; Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  Meaning of the use of technology in everyday life after stroke [poster].

  In:

  Occupational Science Europe Conference, Odense, Denmark, 24-26 August 2023.

• Frey, Sara; Spiess, Martina; Graf, Eveline; Ould Abdeslam, Djaffar; Dyer, Linda; Klamroth-Marganska, Verena,

  2022.

  Implementation of user-centred design for an AI-controlled cooperative arm prosthesis [poster].

  In:

  4. Digital Health Lab Day, Winterthur, Schweiz, 12. September 2022.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  Clinical application of rehabilitation technology : the importance of pairing artificial with human intelligence.

  In:

  7th European Congress of NeuroRehabilitation, Lyon, France, 30 August - 2 September 2023.

• Strub, Sandra; Schildknecht, Corinne; Senn, Daniela; Debecker, Isabelle; Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  Funktionshand : ein alter Zopf?.

  In:

  36. Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Medizinischen Gesellschaft für Paraplegiologie (DMGP), Nottwil, Schweiz, 19.-22. April 2023.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2023.

  Upper limb technology supported rehabilitation.

  In:

  IET The Institution of Engineering and Technology Summer Webinar Series, Upper Limb Rehabilitation 2023, online, 19 April 2023.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2022.

  Robotik in der Medizin : eine Patentlösung für unser Gesundheitssystem?.

  In:

  Verband Zürcher Krankenhäuser (VZK) Tagung Gesundheitsversorgung, Zürich, Schweiz, 8. November 2022.

• Hübscher, Iris; Spiess, Martina; Hohenstein, Christiane; Gantschnig, Brigitte,

  2022.

  Gemeinsam junge Menschen ermächtigen : wie Linguistik und Ergotherapie zusammenspannen.

  In:

  7. UK Symposium: "Mitten im Leben", FHNW Olten, Schweiz, 31. August 2022.

• Klamroth-Marganska, Verena; Spiess, Martina,

  2022.

  It takes three to assist : users, clinicians and engineers together design client-centered assistive devices.

  In:

  RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.

• Sauerzopf, Lena; Luft, Andreas; Spiess, Martina,

  2022.

  Implementation of tools for technology-based teleassessment of sensorimotor recovery after stroke.

  In:

  19th International Medical Ph.D. Conference, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, 24-25 November 2022.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2020.

  Rehabilitation technology : what it can and cannot do now and in the future.

  In:

  Canadian Physical Therapy Association, Neurological Section, Lunch Talk Series, online, 29 April 2020.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2019.

  Why therapists cannot trade their brain for technology (yet).

  In:

  14th Clinical Research Forum (CRF): Technologies and robotics for therapy, Zurich, Switzerland, 2 November 2019.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2019.

  Optimale Anwedung der Rehabilitationstechnologie in der Praxis.

  In:

  Symposium 50 Jahre Zentrum für Rückenmarksverletzte in der BG Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Deutschland, 20.-21. September 2019.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2019.

  Rehabilitation technology in the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury.

  In:

  Neuroplasticity Symposium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 28 June 2019.

• Spiess, Martina,

  2019.

  Rehabilitation technology : how to help therapists improve training.

  In:

  MedtecLIVE, Nuremberg, Germany, 21-23 May 2019.

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