PediaCORE

For the 400,000 children in the United States suffering from cerebral palsy (CP), everyday activities requiring physical mobility can be a significant challenge. Underdeveloped and uncoordinated muscles lead to impaired trunk stability, often preventing development of the ability to independently sit up, reach for objects, and stabilize movements. The best treatment option to build trunk strength is physical therapy (PT). However, PT can be expensive, time-consuming, and/or geographically inaccessible. More accessible treatment options often provide only physical support and fail to help children develop the muscles they need to function independently. There is a clear need for a readily available, affordable, and enjoyable treatment option for children with CP in order to promote early rehabilitation and longterm improvement of motor function.

We present an at-home, interactive physiotherapy play center tailored specifically to meet the needs of two- to five-year-old children with CP. The play center, modeled after infant toy activity centers already familiar to parents, is highly customizable and provides support specifically suited to the needs of children with CP. It encourages children to stretch and reach in ways that mimic common physical therapy exercises, allowing them to build the trunk musculature necessary to gain independence. We aim for our low-cost solution to serve as a supplement to children who are already engaging in PT and as a partial treatment option for those families with no access to PT.