CINCINNATI — New technology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is not only helping kids become more fit but also allowing them to exercise with their favorite characters.
What You Need To Know
- MedMirror is a new technology that uses 3D technology to allows children to workout alongside their favorite character
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital collaborated with the Reds to create a Mr. Redlegs character in the MedMirror
- Carter Shropshire was born with a congenital heart defect and uses the MedMirror as part of the cardiac rehabilitation program
- Cardiologists say working out is extremely important for patients with heart disease
Carter Shropshire is becoming more and more fit.
“A little bit stronger, a little bit more," Carter said.
It's thanks to the cardiac rehabilitation program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“I’ve gotten better at carrying groceries," Carter said.
You would never know this 10-year-old was born with a congenital heart defect and has had several open heart surgeries.
“They felt like his heart condition was more severe than what it has been, and that he might not see that age of two" Stephanie Shropshire Carter's mom said. "He might not walk. He might not talk. And now he talks a little too much.”
His cardiologist Dr. Adam Powell said getting kids with heart conditions to exercise is key.
“We find that exercise therapy is super helpful for children of heart disease," Powell said. "Not only that, children who don't exercise don't get a chance to, you know, engage with their peers at recess. Get the camaraderie of sports and team sports. They have lower self-esteem. They have some mental health issues.”
And Cincinnati Children’s is doing something not many others are: they’re using technology to make workouts easier and more engaging with the MedMirror, which uses 3D tracking technology to have children’s favorite characters working out alongside them.
“I just like to put it on because it’s cool," Carter said.
In this case, Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs. The hospital’s digital experience team, Media Lab and the Cincinnati Reds collaborated to create a digitized version of Mr. Redlegs. But today, Carter is in for a surprise.
“I mean he just came out of no where!” Carter said when Mr. Redlegs surprised him.
Carter is not only able to workout with the digital Mr. Redlegs, but the real-life version too. Something that touches his mother’s heart.
“I was sitting back there trying not to cry," Stephanie said. "I'm very honored to be Carter's mom, you know, just to hear the things that he was not going to be able to do. And then even still, just to notice the challenges and seeing how he overcomes each and every roadblock that comes his way has just been an amazing experience.”
As much of a win it is for Carter, it’s a win for all kids in cardiac rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s.
“Things like the MedMirror and other technologies where we can bring those in and then start to bring in some of their favorite characters, like Mr. Redlegs, into the fold and get them exercising and staying active," Dr. Ryan Moore the chief of emerging technologies for Cincinnati Children's said. "We see there's going to be incredible value there. And where you see that they're going to enjoy coming and want to come to Cincinnati Children's for that.”
And now, Carter can enter sixth grade with the confidence to not only help with the groceries, but also to try out for the basketball team.
“It warms my heart greatly watching Carter in here today and watching him progress through this program," Powell said.
“It's really, expanded his confidence," Stephanie said. "Especially when it comes to health, but also just when it comes to his character as a young man. He's definitely grown being here.”