EWB Students Level Up Rehabilitation Experiences

Loewenstein Hospital is the largest rehabilitation medical center in Israel, helping children from the age of 3, teenagers, young people, soldiers, and adults who suffer from functional impairment following diseases, traffic accidents, terror acts, and other injuries.

In collaboration with the Engineers Without Borders student group at Afeka, they took an upper limb physiotherapy training device used in occupational therapy treatments and transformed it into an engaging, enjoyable rehabilitative experience for patients at Loewenstein Hospital. The students integrated the classic memory game "Simon" into the device, making the exercises more interactive and fun.

Ifat Schwartz, Director of the Occupational Therapy Institute at Loewenstein Hospital, shared: "We always welcome technological initiatives that diversify treatment options and enrich the patient experience. We are also delighted about this collaborative effort that benefits from the strengths of each participant."

Yanir Ezrad from the EWB team explained: "The device addresses a pleasant user experience better suited to today's cognitive needs. It also adds an extra dimension to the daily routines with current therapeutic devices."

By thoughtfully gamifying rehabilitative technology, the Afeka EWB team demonstrates innovative thinking to make recoveries more engaging while meeting modern standards of care. Their project exemplifies the power of engineering to positively impact patient well-being through user-centric design.