Between 2020 and 2022, through the GIFT project – EnGIneering For sporT for all, researchers at Politecnico di Milano involved 19 children with hemiplegia aged between 6 and 10 in various sports activities, thanks to innovative orthoses (medical devices used in orthopaedics or traumatology to treat certain conditions) developed specifically to correct the children’s functional impairments, aiming to address most motor and cognitive disabilities.
Alongside the study of orthoses, part of the project was dedicated to social research involving families, teachers and sports associations, so that these children could genuinely engage in sport, reducing the gap that still exists between able-bodied and disabled individuals, with the aim of introducing new practices and behavioural models.
The project was a success: now, to generate real impact, it needs to go beyond the 19 children involved in the pilot project.
“GIFT,” explained Professor Manuela Galli from the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering at Politecnico and scientific director of the project, “aims to be a gift for all children with functional limitations.”
The research project was developed by the Interdepartmental E4Sport Laboratory at Politecnico di Milano and involved partners including the Associazione La Nostra Famiglia – IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, Università Cattolica di Milano, ITOP, BTS, Math&Sport, Edumoto, Yuki Onlus and several sports associations.
“Understanding how sport and physical activity generate value for society and for the economic and production system is now a priority in promoting a change in perspective: they are not just ‘fun’, but an important investment – and one that must be protected – for society’s wellbeing and competitiveness,” explains Emanuele Lettieri, Full Professor of Accounting, Finance & Control and project manager of the GIFT project.
