About this idea
Massive Market Opportunity: Movement disorders affect over 40 million people in the U.S. and roughly 175 million globally, with Parkinson’s disease rapidly increasing in prevalence.
Patented Medical Technology: The Strum Perfect device guides wrist and arm movement, turning guitar playing into structured motor rehabilitation for patients with tremors and rigidity.
Published Clinical Research: The therapy is supported by peer-reviewed research showing improvements in movement consistency and therapeutic engagement.
Insurance Reimbursement Pathway: The platform has a defined Durable Medical Equipment (DME) pathway toward Medicare and insurance reimbursement.
Scalable Clinical Model: A credentialing program for occupational and physical therapists enables nationwide delivery through existing rehabilitation networks.
Impact
Michigan Impact
Launching Theraplaying in Michigan positions the state as a hub for innovation in neurological rehabilitation. The program could expand access to therapy for Parkinson’s, stroke, and traumatic brain injury patients while creating new opportunities for occupational and physical therapists through a credentialing and training program. Partnerships with universities and healthcare systems can drive research, clinical trials, and workforce development. As the program scales, Michigan could see growth in digital health, medical device innovation, and therapy-related jobs while improving patient outcomes across the state.
Global Impact
Movement disorders affect tens of millions of people in the U.S. and over 175 million worldwide. Theraplaying offers a scalable, music-based rehabilitation model that combines technology, clinical protocol, and therapist training. By improving motor control, engagement, and quality of life for patients with neurological conditions, the program could help reduce long-term disability, support independence, and lower healthcare costs. With a renewable therapy model and insurance reimbursement pathway, Sharp & Flat has the potential to transform how neurological rehabilitation is delivered globally.
What I'll do with $5,000
A $5,000 award would directly support the development of the training curriculum and materials needed to scale the Theraplaying program as we prepare for launch next month. This funding will help finalize therapist training guides, clinical protocols for delivering the renewable 12-week program, and instructional materials that occupational and physical therapists can use with patients. It will also support the creation of digital resources, assessment tools, and simple training videos that make onboarding new providers faster and more consistent. By building these materials now, we’re laying the foundation for a credentialing program that allows therapists to deliver the program confidently and helps us expand the therapy to more patients with movement disorders.
Quick Bio
James Lenger is founder of Sharp & Flat and creator of Theraplaying. A former TeamUSA athlete, he has taught 2.9M+ minutes of guitar lessons and published research on music-based neurological therapy.
Links
