Jackson Free Press

Susan Geiger, a physical therapist at Jackson's Methodist Rehabilitation Center, recently helped a group of middle-school students win a state robotics competition. The Techno Warriors, a group of home-schooled students ages 10 to 14, competed in the FIRST Lego League on Dec. 2, in which participants build Lego-based robots to solve engineering challenges. The competition's theme was Senior Solutions, tasking the competing teams to develop inventions to improve quality of life for seniors.

Teresa Lanum, who along with her husband, Jeff Lanum, founded Central Mississippi Robotics, a local nonprofit that mentors the Techno Warriors, asked Geiger to assist the team. Teams participating in the FIRST Lego League are required to consult with a professional to learn more about the challenge topic. Geiger, who assists seniors with balance issues at Methodist, gave a presentation on the subject to the children.

"That's what's great about Methodist Rehab," Geiger said in a press release. "We really like to host students--we are a clinical site for therapy students--but I think our facility also fosters education in the community for anybody who is interested in learning."

Geiger taught the students about the human vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear and controls balance and spatial orientation, so they could learn how to help seniors prevent falls. She also tested the students' balance using the same tests she performs on seniors to diagnose their balance issues.

"In using them as the 'patients' throughout the assessment, that gave them a picture of the things that we have to consider when treating the elderly," Geiger said. "Those are the things they might not have thought about. Like, can you stand on one foot? That may be easy for a kid, but it's more challenging for an older person."

With the information they learned from Geiger, the Techno Warriors built a weight-sensitive rubber mat that lights up when stepped on. The light helps guide seniors who get up in the night to use the restroom. The device uses amber-colored lights, which are less likely to disrupt sleep patterns. The Techno Warriors won the Champion's Award, one of the most prestigious of the competition, for their invention.

"When they had presented it to me, I thought they did a really great job," Geiger said. "I was excited for them when they won."

The FIRST Lego League began in 1998 with 210 teams nationally. This year, more than 20,000 teams competed.

"Interestingly enough, just this week I got an email that (FIRST Lego League) is going to bring a LEGO robotics pilot program to our school," said Geiger, who has a daughter who attends First Presbyterian Day School in Jackson.

For more information about FIRST Lego League, visit centralmississippirobotics.org or usfirst.org.