Palanga Rehabilitation Branch “Pušynas” of the Republican Hospital of Klaipėda, together with its project partners – Liepāja Hospital “Piejūras slimnīca” and the Center for Education Health and Social Innovation (Kintai) – continues the implementation of the international project “Speed up the rehabilitation through digitalization as a mean of social inclusion” (SPEED UP, No. LL-00270).
The project’s objective is to improve the quality and accessibility of rehabilitation services by introducing innovative digital health technologies that help patients recover lost functional abilities more quickly and return to independent, active lives.
The project partners are currently completing the procurement and implementation of state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment. Patients and clients of all three partner institutions already have access to the RehaCom computerized cognitive assessment and training system, which supports the evaluation and improvement of attention, memory, concentration, reaction speed, planning, and executive functions. Rehabilitation specialists also use Squeezi interactive sensor balls to improve hand function, coordination, reaction time, and both fine and gross motor skills. Their engaging, game-based exercises encourage active participation in therapy, increase patient motivation, and help maintain concentration throughout rehabilitation sessions.
Liepāja Hospital “Piejūras slimnīca” has already installed a virtual reality rehabilitation system that enables patients to practice every day functional movements in a safe and controlled environment. Virtual reality technology supports the recovery of upper limb function, improves coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and independence in daily activities. The technology is expected to increase patient engagement during rehabilitation and contribute to faster functional recovery. In the coming months, the same innovative system will also be introduced by the Lithuanian project partners.
At Palanga Rehabilitation Branch “Pušynas”, an innovative Pelvic rehabilitation system has already been introduced for women’s health rehabilitation. The system is designed to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and enables specialists to provide individualized rehabilitation programmes for women recovering after childbirth, gynecological surgery, or experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. Another new technology introduced at the branch is the Neofect Smart Balance system, which provides an objective assessment of both static and dynamic balance while allowing therapists to develop individualized training programmes. The system delivers real-time feedback during exercises, enabling patients to monitor their progress and helping rehabilitation professionals evaluate treatment outcomes more accurately. This technology is particularly beneficial for patients recovering from injuries, orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular diseases, as well as older adults who need to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.
The Center for Education Health and Social Innovation has acquired the NeurOptimal® Dynamic Neurofeedback System, an innovative technology designed to support the brain’s natural ability to self-regulate and optimize its performance. The system helps reduce stress and tension, improve sleep quality, enhance attention and concentration, reduce anxiety, and promote faster recovery after emotional or physical strain. In practice, specialists use the NeurOptimal® system to support individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, sensory integration difficulties, migraines, emotional exhaustion, burnout symptoms, and increased anxiety. As part of a comprehensive rehabilitation approach, the system contributes to improved emotional well-being, greater resilience to stress, enhanced concentration, and a better overall quality of life.
All technologies introduced through the SPEED UP project complement traditional rehabilitation methods and enable a more personalized approach to patient care. Digital rehabilitation systems provide objective assessments of patients’ functional abilities, allow continuous monitoring of rehabilitation progress, and support the adaptation of therapy programmes to individual needs. As a result, rehabilitation becomes more effective while increasing patients’ confidence, motivation, and active involvement in their own recovery.
Through the implementation of the SPEED UP project, the partners are creating more modern, accessible, and effective rehabilitation services across the Lithuania–Latvia border region. By integrating innovative digital health technologies into everyday clinical practice, the project aims to improve rehabilitation outcomes, accelerate patients’ return to independence, enhance their quality of life, and promote greater social inclusion for vulnerable groups.
