If you’re a pediatric therapist, a parent of a child with disabilities, or a teacher always searching for creative ways to get kids moving, Augment Therapy’s ARWell apps are seriously worth checking out. The apps turn evidence-based movements and tasks into a game. And they use only the camera in a tablet or phone to track body movement while turning the player into the game controller!
Ending Exercise Struggles with Augmented Reality Fun
Imagine this: instead of spending all your energy trying to get kids excited about therapy tasks or home exercises, you turn on an app and suddenly they’re bowling, surfing, or even playing pickleball in augmented reality—right in their living room, classroom, or treatment space. That’s what Augment Therapy’s ARWell apps make possible. And if you’re working via telehealth, don’t worry—these activities work from anywhere. In fact, 85% of kids in the hospital said Augment Therapy actually made them want to exercise.[1] Worried about getting buy-in from kids? Problem solved — kids earn stars every time they finish an exercise- turning daily battles into victories. Those stars can be redeemed for upgrades to their avatar, so they can play the next game in awesome shades, with a sweet backpack, or wearing a hot dog suit!
Familiar Characters Up the Game
Who wouldn’t want to move if Big Bird, Elmo, or a virtual pet, Peridot, were by your side? Through partnerships with Sesame Workshop and Niantic Spatial, kids can perform their therapeutic tasks alongside their favorite familiar characters. Playing fetch with Peridot, Jumping Jacks with the Count, and doing Air Writing with Elmo truly motivates even the biggest nay-sayers. It’s an incredibly powerful tool especially for kids who operate best with fun and familiar faces.
What’s Available
You’ll find two main options:
- ARWell: Perfect for independent home use. It turns various developmental motor tasks into interactive adventures that keep your child moving—and laughing—right beside you. You can subscribe in the app store.
- ARWell PRO: Designed for therapists and their patients, this version has extra tools for in-clinic, home exercise programs, and telehealth sessions. It even automatically collects session data for you while your patients play, and they don’t need sensors, controllers or wearable technology. Another bonus? The software generates a session summary you can copy and paste into your daily note- making documentation quick and easy.
Built for Everyone
Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword in Augment Therapy’s ARWell apps. With customizable accessibility settings, the apps cater to children with sensory differences as well as different physical abilities; kids can even play if they’re using a wheelchair or another mobility device. You can select from multiple languages for the trainer or even select closed captions to appear on the screen. Truly, no one is left behind.
The Bottom Line- Purposeful Screen Time
Whether you’re guiding a therapy session or want less battles while supporting your child’s development and movement time, Augment Therapy’s ARWell apps bring excitement, motivation, and data you can use. It’s purposeful screen time. If you’re curious about how this technology can make a difference in your kids’ wellness or therapy journey, it’s worth checking out—we’re seeing firsthand how it transforms therapy and helps kids feel confident, included, and ready to move.
Ready to make movement fun? Sign up now!
Therapists: Pro Pricing Monthly — Augment Therapy
Parents, teachers, home subscribers without a therapist:
By Amy Pratt PT, MPT, Director of Clinical Success at Augment Therapy and Lindsay Watson PT, MPT, CEO at Augment Therapy
References:
Hockey E, Hoyen C, Minich N, Stormorken A. (2021, November 4-6). Augmented Reality Physical Therapy (AR-PT) Pilot in Children [Poster presentation]. Johns Hopkins Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference 2021.