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Twente's respiratory trainer nominated for Klokhuis Science Prize

The respiratory trainer from Twente is one of the ten nominees for the Klokhuis Science Prize. The trainer is an innovation from UT researcher Geke Ludden and designer Hellen van Rees. For the development, the team of experts from the University of Twente and Saxion worked closely together with Medisch Spectrum Twente, Ziekenhuis Groep Twente, Deventer Ziekenhuis and Menzis.

Breathing wrongly

Dysfunctional breathing in children literally means that they are breathing incorrectly. Often more air is inhaled than exhaled, causing a child to feel short of breath. That may happen when they are in motion, for example, while playing. Now the diagnosis is made in the paediatrics department and the pediatric physiotherapist provides breathing exercises that children can use during sports. With the shirt designed by Geke and Hellen, it is examined whether it is possible to give children feedback about their breathing without the intervention of a professional.

Training

Asthma and dysfunctional breathing are common causes of breathlessness in children. Training breathing at home can make children less stuffy. The breathing trainer makes direct therapeutic support possible. In this way, they move the diagnosis and ultimately the treatment to the home situation as much as possible. When a child comes to the clinic, often many issues do not come to light and that gives a distorted picture. Determining symptoms at home provides a much better understanding of respiratory problems and when they occur.

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About the Klokhuis Science Prize

The Klokhuis Science Prize is an initiative of In Science, which, together with tv show Het Klokhuis, awarded a prize for the most interesting and relevant scientific research for children aged 9 to 12. This year, there were more than sixty applications for a nomination. An episode of Het Klokhuis will be devoted to the winning research. The Klokhuis Science Prize will be awarded on Wednesday 10 November during the junior opening of the In Science festival.

L.P.W. van der Velde MSc (Laurens)
Spokesperson Executive Board (EB)