Luton and Dunstable Hospital is using ZigZag’s Sportwall to treat patients in the paediatric physiotherapy department and already has a waiting list.  

The hospital, which is the first in the UK to install one of ZigZag’s unique Sportwalls, is offering many of its young patients one-to-one physiotherapy sessions using the interactive kit whilst in hospital, as well as running group sessions after school for outpatients.  

The classes, which are broken down into patients with similar abilities and/or conditions, offer training from both a respiratory and a rehabilitation point of view. 

“We are delighted to be using this new piece of technology.  The kids love it as it allows them to have fun and socialise whilst exercising with other children with similar conditions,” said Nicola Shaw, Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist at the hospital. 

“We have been doing time trials with patients that need to build up their cardiovascular system and balance and strengthening games for those that require rehabilitation. 

“What’s more, the children are more likely to do the exercises we prescribe if they can do them here using the Sportwall and having fun, rather than working from a sheet of exercises to do at home!” 

Fergus Ahern, Managing Director of ZigZag said: “The Sportwall is a great piece of kit for these children.  It provides heightened levels of stimulation to ‘jump-start’ damaged or neglected areas of motor co-ordination and neurological wiring and is kinetic training where the entire body is engaged, including the senses, so it’s more relevant in terms of fundamental movement and motor skills.”