Bringing Joy and Movement to Children: An Interview with Jenna Lammers

In this inspiring podcast episode, we dive deep with Jenna Lammers, a pioneering research clinician with 24 years of experience in pediatric physical therapy. Jenna shares her incredible journey of developing the GiggleFit Therapeutic Play Gym, an innovative solution aimed at improving mobility and bringing joy to children with severe mobility impairments.

From her early days in NICU, PICU, and other clinical settings, to founding Boost Therapeutic Innovations, Jenna discusses how she turned feedback from families during the pandemic into a groundbreaking product. Highlights include her success in the 2024 APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation Shark Tank and a touching story of how the GiggleFit Play Gym is transforming the lives of children and their caregivers. Jenna's narrative is not just about a product but a passionate mission to ensure mobility is a right for all children.

 

00:00 Introduction to Jenna Lammers: A Game Changer in Pediatric Physical Therapy

01:38 Jenna's Journey: From Clinician to Innovator

02:31 The Birth of GiggleFit Therapeutic Play Gym

02:47 Challenges Faced by Families During the Pandemic

03:41 Creating the Prototype: From Idea to Reality

06:47 Testing the Prototype: Real-World Applications

09:56 Collaborations and Research Studies

12:46 Impact and Future of Therapeutic Play Gym

21:48 Understanding Musculoskeletal Development

23:19 Introduction to TPG and Self-Soothing

24:14 Caregiver Engagement and Hospital Experience

26:56 Hospital to Home Concept

27:48 Winning the PT Shark Tank

28:11 Product Kits and Safety Testing

29:39 Research and Outcome Measures

32:36 Global Statistics and Funding Challenges

38:02 Mobility as a Human Right

41:38 Advice for Innovators and Entrepreneurs 45:26 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

LINKS TO LEARN MORE:

Jenna's website: www.boosttherapeutic.com

Recent talk by Jenna: https://clinical-excellence.heysummit.com/speakers/jenna-lammers

SUGGESTED READS:

• Sabet et al. (2022). ON Time Mobility: Advocating for Mobility Equity. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 34(4), 546-550. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000939.
• 2022 Tipping Points Survey
• 2023 Tipping Points Survey
• Lammers & Smith (2024). Therapeutic Play Gym: Feasibility of a Caregiver-Mediated Exercise System for NICU Graduates with Neuromuscular Weakness-A Case Series. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 36(1), 105-112. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000001071.
• Schiff et al. (2022). Financing Care for CYSHCN in the Next Decade: Reducing Burden, Advancing Equity, and Transforming Systems. Pediatrics, 149(Suppl 7):e2021056150I. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-056150I.
• Global Research on Developmental Disabilities Collaborators (2022). Accelerating progress on early childhood development for children under 5 years with disabilities by 2030. The Lncet. Global Health, 10(3), e438-e444. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00488-5. Epub 2022 Jan 14.