Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program

IREX Makes Therapy Fun For Kids

By Kenny Independent (Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute)

At age 6, Carter Mortensen is ready for first grade. That’s no small feat for a child who was diagnosed with autism at age 2-1/2. For the past three years he has been receiving occupational, physical and speech therapy at the Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program in Coon Rapids, Minn.

A new virtual reality technology at Kenny Kids is one reason that Carter is making noticeable progress in several areas, like eyehand coordination, large muscle control and body awareness.

Called Immersive Rehabilitation Exercise, or IREX, it is also addressing a key challenge in providing therapy to children: keeping them motivated. “If therapy isn’t fun, kids won’t do it,” said Sara Rohde, occupational therapist.

The IREX system includes a computer loaded with virtual reality software, a digital camera and a monitor. The camera projects the child’s image on the monitor, which also shows a virtual reality environment, such as a racecar track, soccer field or ski hill. The child interacts with the environment by catching or kicking balls, ducking to escape danger, or moving to avoid an obstacle.

The Sister Kenny Foundation funded the IREX system at Kenny Kids. IREX is also available at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus.

Carter Mortensen interacting with the IREX

“For Carter, the best thing about IREX is that he loves it,” said Rohde. In addition, there is great flexibility in how the technology can be adapted to meet the unique therapy needs of each child.

For example, a physical therapist working with a child on trunk control may set up an activity for the child to do while seated on a therapy ball — a fun way to help the child strengthen core muscles. Or a speech therapist may use the IREX as a means to encourage a child to talk about an activity. One of the ways Rohde is using IREX with Mortensen is structuring activities to encourage him to extend his hands across the midline of his body — a developmental milestone that supports more advanced activities.

Rohde also said that because IREX is set up as a game, children are more likely to work on challenging activities, build endurance and progress to more advanced levels of difficulty.

Carrie Mortensen, Carter’s mother, said that IREX has made a big difference for her son. “When I watch him using IREX, it’s like he comes to life. He’s so excited to be there. He has made phenomenal progress.”

For more information, call the Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program at 763-236-7337 or visit Sister Kenny Institute.