NEUROCLE

This project aims to explore how design strategy can be utilized to create therapy assistive products for the recovery of kids suffering from Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). The lack of context-based therapy assistive products is a major problem. Although therapies can help in the recovery of children experiencing CP, these therapies are expensive, unpleasing, and uninteresting for kids because of their lack of engagement in such activities. This project is targeted at making a solution for the upper limb of kids with CP.

The product designed for this problem is called NEUROCLE.

NEUROCLE is a therapy assistive toy for Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy patients. It assists in posture correction, grip improvement, and muscle strengthening. It also develops gross and fine motor skills. Hence making the overall experience engaging and appealing for children.

The ideation process of the project “NEUROCLE” started by keeping in mind the basic therapy movements and the hand posture of Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy patients.

The final design consists of a car track. The car operates from the buttons that are in a form of compressible semi-balls (every ball has a different speed/response) that will improve finger and wrist movements. It also has a steering wheel attached that will improve shoulder movement. The car can also be operated by hand manually which improves elbow, wrist, fingers, and shoulder movement. On the other side, it has a magnetic drawing board that consists of finger grips shapes (star and circle) and a hand glove with magnetic finger grips through which kids can draw on the board improving their fine and gross motor skills. Hence this product is designed to improve muscle movements in an appealing and engaging way.

Functional Aspects of the Design:

- Improves the larger muscle movements of the shoulder and elbow

- Improves the grip

- Improves fine movements of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist

- Rehabilitates fingers, wrists, and forearms

- Increases flexibility

- Prevents stiffness in joints and muscle

- Posture correction

- Muscle strengthening

- Development of gross and fine motor skills