Digital Physio App Earns UMS Students Silver at Indonesia Inventors Day 2025

The demand for physiotherapy services in Indonesia continues to rise as public awareness grows regarding the importance of physical recovery and rehabilitation. However, access to such services remains limited, particularly in rural areas.

Recognizing this gap, a group of students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) created an innovative digital physiotherapy app called “Physio Connect: Smart and Intelligent of Self Care and Clinical Treatment.” The project won a silver medal at the Indonesia Inventors Day (IID) 2025, outperforming hundreds of other innovative works in the international competition.

The innovation was developed by Team Physio Connect, consisting of students from UMS Physiotherapy and Digital Business Department. The team members include Urip Pamungkas Jati Dharma (team leader), Hafidh Erli Nurdin Pratama, Meitha Wila Roseyani, Yudha Wirajati, Shandhi Putri Wahyu Sartika, Nabil Oktora Ramadhan, and Jafar Annashirudin. They were supervised by Arif Pristianto, SST.FT., Ftr., M.Fis.

Team Leader of Physio Connect, Urip Pamungkas. Personal Documentation. 

“At first, two of my friends and I only joined national competitions. After winning, Mr. Arif encouraged us to take it to the international level,” said Urip Pamungkas, when interviewed on Tuesday (7/10/2025).

Urip explained that the project began as a collaboration among five Physiotherapy students, later joined by two Digital Business students. “Since the app is digital-based, we needed team members with technical and business expertise. That’s why we collaborated with friends from the Digital Business program to handle those aspects,” he added.

The main idea behind the development of Physio Connect stems from the gap in access to physiotherapy services between urban and rural areas. “Many people in rural regions struggle to access physiotherapy services. While the need for such care continues to increase, most facilities remain concentrated in cities. From there, we wanted to create a technology-based solution,” explained Urip.

The Physio Connect application comes with a variety of standout features, one of which is Journal Link, allowing users and therapists to access evidence-based scientific journals in physiotherapy. “We wanted to bridge the gap in scientific literacy for physiotherapy practice,” said Urip.

Another feature is Exercise Fit, which helps users follow customized exercise programs tailored to individual needs. “This feature allows users to know the right intensity, repetitions, and proper exercise techniques. Everything is integrated with references from scientific journals to ensure that the exercise programs are credible,” he added.

Another key innovation is Telephysio, a remote consultation service that connects patients and physiotherapists online. “Usually, patients have to come in person for a consultation, but with Telephysio, those who face difficulties in visiting a physiotherapist can still consult virtually,” explained Urip.

Another exciting feature of Physio Connect is Near Therapy, which functions like a digital map to help users find the nearest physiotherapy clinics. There’s also Posture IQ, a tool that allows users to check their body posture simply by taking a photo. “From the uploaded photo, the system can analyze the user’s posture and provide personalized exercise recommendations for improvement,” explained Urip.

The development of Physio Connect took around four months leading up to the competition. “We started in our fourth semester, and the app development process took about three to four months before the event,” said Urip.

Competing on an international stage was not without challenges. “Our competitors came from various countries, some even from Korea, where technology is much more advanced. But we took that as motivation to stay confident and prove that ideas from Indonesian students also have great potential,” he said enthusiastically.

For Urip, joining an international competition was an unforgettable experience. “It was my first time joining an international event, and I was fortunate to work with such an incredible team. The journey and struggles we went through together became one of the best experiences of my college life,” he shared.

After achieving this milestone, the Physio Connect Team plans to continue improving the app and joining more competitions. “We don’t want to stop at just one achievement. Our hope is that this innovation keeps evolving so that physiotherapy services in Indonesia can become more advanced and accessible,” Urip stated.

Closing the interview, Urip shared a message for fellow students: “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Let fear be your motivation. We may feel that other teams are stronger, but every effort will eventually bear fruit. Just focus on your goals and enjoy the process,” concluded the accomplished student with an optimistic smile.

Writer: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid