27/09/2026
When 16-year-old Khaled was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it touched nearly every aspect of his life. But recovery doesn't just happen in a physical therapy room it happens on the playground, at school, and in everyday moments. That realization is what inspired a groundbreaking initiative at Rambam Health Care Campus.
Dr. Lihi Mansano and the team at the Azrieli Foundation Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, alongside design experts from the University of Haifa, are turning clothing into a therapeutic tool. By combining medical expertise with smart adaptive fashion like discreet, removable weights in pants that stabilize legs and reduce tremors they are helping kids like Khaled build strength and independence long after their session ends.
The approach is entirely holistic. When a toddler recovering from severe burns needed to wear a pressure garment and face mask for months, the team designed lightweight, breathable outer layers. The goal wasn’t just physical protection; it was ensuring she could go to daycare, play like any other child, and be seen first for who she is, not her diagnosis.
"We treat more than the muscle or the nervous system," Dr. Mansano shares. "We consider the child’s emotional experience, self-perception, and sense of belonging."
success isn't just measured by an improved range of motion. It’s measured when a child dresses independently, gains confidence, and gets to simply be a kid again.