leonard.mancini@yahoo.com
Master’s Degree in Architecture
University of Florence (IT)
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Product design
University of Wales (UK)
Concept design Concept dev Design
Sketching Rhinoceros Cinema 4D (V-ray)
Autocad Photoshop Indesign
Toys/aids for neurotherapy
concept
“... Doctor what is meant by neuroriabilitation of the evolutionary age ?...”
“... Rehabilitation in the evolutionary phase represents 80% of cases therapy for congenital neuropathologies, so we try to improve progressively the neurological deficit with sensory stimulus, through the use of multisensory rooms, Snoezelen rooms and the use of therapeutic objects, mainly games, which allow to develop cognitive abilities in the patient...”
“... Could you please indicate what characteristics a game/aid should have, for a child with brain lesions ?...”
“ ... First of all we should keep in mind the degree of brain injury, but usually as I have already said before you there is a need to stimulate the afferent pathways of the nervous system, because thanks to the activation of receptors and specific areas of the brain, it is possible to go to improve progressively the lack of cognitive power. So I would recommend to design games with contrast of colors, preferably black and white, use of chess boards to allow “climbing” the eye and therefore increase the ocular stability and motor, Games that can emit lights and sounds using different materials to give the possibility of manipulating various surfaces so that you can stimulate touch...”
“... Doctor what therapeutic methodology does she use for children with brain injuries?...”
“... I think it depends a lot on the type of injury and the extent of the brain damage, but in any case I believe that everything is based on the correct balance of movements, transmitting security and stability to the patient ...”
“... What is essential for the purpose of neuroriabilitative therapy ?...”
“... The essential thing is to place the patient in a favorable situation, to be able to transmit positivity from the environment, the furnishings, the shapes and colors. The child must feel protected and calm...”
“... During therapy the use of tools becomes very important, in this regard when an object can be defined as therapeutic...”
“... Aids and games are very important, as they help the patient in therapy. These products should be designed exclusively for each of the existing neuropathologies, so that they can reproduce precise movements and stimuli. Also, in order for a tool to be considered therapeutic for the neurological rehabilitation of children we must try to create a purpose for movement. Very often we therapists with our means to create craft games that can satisfy exact movements in the patient , but if it was a designer to create these types of products with a real project, through our collaboration, It would be much more effective...”
interview on 2.10.12
B) Dr. Andrea Guzzetta
Head of the neurology section
Stella Maris Institute, Calambrone Pisa (Italy)
C) Dr. Silvia Paoli paediatric rehabilitation physiotherapist at AOU Meyer, Florence (Italy) interview on 12.10.12
SENSE MEMORY
_ Patients in the developing age with partial or total movement disorders, cognitive deficits or cerebral palsy
_ Simple to use with dual therapeutic function, to promote the patient’s cognitive development
SENSORY STIMULATION
MEMORY TEST
SENSORY STIMULATION
touch: different surface roughness of each ring
SENSORY STIMULATION
hearing: adding spheres inside the cavity
hearing language (understanding) recognition (objects/faces) memory
HEART OF EARTH
_ Modular open space for single patient, combinable and transformable in closed environment for group therapy
_ Protective shell: the intimate and sharing space, in which the patient can feel free to express all their difficulties, uncertainties and at the same time develop new cognitive abilities
_ Tool to implement the patient’s psycho-physical well being and at the same time promote the correct course of therapy
_ Creation of a dynamic and multifunctional therapeutic space
_ Design an ideal space for the Mirror Therapy, within a recreational environment
_ Ensuring cognitive development of patients through reflex sensory perception
_ Creation of a dynamic and multifunctional tool
_ Design an ideal object to be inserted into the Bobath therapy, associating the concept of movement with propriety. This way it was possible to recreate a game situation in which the patient is driving an imaginary vehicle
_ To intervene with an aid for the hemiplegici ensuring the correct movement of both parts of the body by achieving the balance
partial/complete paralysis of one half of the body
Equilibrium position achieved with the grip of both upper limbs
the hemiplegic patient, the ability to work with both limbs is stimulated through the achievement of balance
