CASE REPORT article
Front. Rehabil. Sci.
Sec. Rehabilitation in Children and Youth
This article is part of the Research TopicShifting neuromuscular rehabilitation to improve human functioning in low-resource settingsView all 4 articles
A SELF-MADE SUSPENSION TRAINER AS A TOOL FOR CORE MUSCLE ACTIVATION AND MOTIVATION IN A GIRL WITH COGNITIVE AND MOTOR IMPAIRMENTS: A CASE REPORT
Provisionally accepted
- Independent Researcher, Lviv, Ukraine
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Background: Children with combined cognitive and motor impairments often experience persistent difficulties with postural control, core muscle function, and motivation for rehabilitation. Low-cost, engaging approaches may be particularly relevant in resource-limited settings. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with a history of perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury and early-onset seizures, presenting with severe cognitive and motor impairment. Caregiver-provided clinical documentation indicated severe intellectual disability (ICD-10: F72.0) and degree II–III activity limitations (as graded within national rehabilitation documentation) across domains including self-care, mobility, communication, behavioral regulation, and learning-related functioning. Clinically, she demonstrated marked core and scapular weakness, a rounded upper back posture, and reduced motivation after years of conventional therapy. Intervention: A self-made suspension trainer was constructed from accessible materials (rope, gym stick, and floor mat) and integrated into therapy sessions. The main task consisted of supported sit-ups combined with assisted pulling, enabling partial weight support, with gradual progression in repetitions and independence. Outcomes: Across sessions, observable changes were noted in task performance and engagement, including increased repetitions and reduced need for assistance. Outcomes were documented through session logs, therapist observation, and caregiver report; no standardized outcome measures were applied. Conclusion: This single-case report provides qualitative, hypothesis-generating observations suggesting that a low-cost, therapist-made suspension trainer may support engagement and task performance in a child with complex neurodevelopmental needs. These findings are not generalizable and warrant evaluation using standardized outcomes and longer follow-up.
Keywords: case report, core stability, low-resource intervention, Motivation, Neurodevelopmental disability, Pediatric Rehabilitation, suspension trainer
Received: 02 Jul 2025; Accepted: 05 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Maksym. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Volodymyr Maksym
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