Using virtual reality and soft robotics to make exercise easier and fun for children with SMA

There have been big improvements in treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). These new treatments can help slow down how quickly the condition gets worse. But they can’t undo damage that’s already happened. If someone has lost movement, treatments can’t bring it back.

That’s why regular exercise and physiotherapy are still really important. They can help keep muscles strong, improve movement, and support everyday activities.

However, many people with SMA struggle to get the right kind of exercise support. Some of the challenges include:

• High costs
• Frequent trips to hospital to get new exercises or check technique
• Not enough physiotherapists available
• Keeping young children interested in doing the same exercises again and again

Researchers are working on new ways to make exercise and physiotherapy more fun, more personalised and easier for people with SMA to do at home.

This project is creating a new physiotherapy and exercise tool that combines:

• Virtual reality (VR) – to turn exercises into fun, game-like experiences
• Soft robotics – gentle, flexible devices that help children feel and interact with the virtual world

Once the tool is ready, the team will test it with people with and without SMA to make sure it’s safe and works well. The team will work closely with physiotherapists, doctors, and children with SMA to ensure the tool is easy to use, helpful, and can be personalised for each person.

This new tool could help children with SMA stay active and receive better care. By making physiotherapy more fun and easier to do at home, it could:

• Help children enjoy exercise and stay motivated
• Give instant feedback on progress
• Cut down on hospital visits
• Be tailored to each child’s needs
• Improve strength, movement, and coordination

This project will explore whether the tool has the potential to be useful, and worth testing further. If it works well, it could one day be used widely to support people with SMA.