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 Nintendo Wii For Physical Therapy Patients Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs is one of many health centers and physical therapy centers using the Wii video game system to help patients of all ages recover from injury and surgery. Combined with the use of weights, stability balls and balance boards these activities have become more than child’s play and have brought innovative fun to what can be painful and sometimes monotonous exercise. Nintendo has also been pitching the Wii to older generations by partnering with Florida retirement communities and setting up a booth at last year’s AARP Life@50+ event in Anaheim. Video games will help keep older people moving and staying active. This Christmas my kids were lucky enough to find a Wii under the tree and I too was surprised at how much fun my 72 year old mother had bowling with her grandchildren. Hopefully, Nintendo will continue to encourage active paly among all age groups. Who knows Grandma may even give up Tuesday night Bingo for Tueday night Wii Bowling! It could happen!!
 Before Wii, patients might stand at a waist-high table to work on a puzzle, or stand and bounce a ball or balloon back and forth.
Unlike a puzzle, the Wii requires users to swing their arms, putting more muscles to use. As the arms swing, the body must compensate and use muscles to keep its center of balance. And as the patients improve, they begin to take small steps while playing instead of keeping their feet stationary. Not to mention, it's fun, Joyner said, which can offer a distraction for the patient.
''I enjoyed it,'' Gowin said. ''The game requires hand-eye coordination, as well as balance and being able to stand up. Those three things pretty much determine whether you can play the game or not.''
Those three things also help determine how soon patients can get home.
Though Meyer admits it took her a few minutes to get used to the controller, she sees the Wii as a good addition to her therapy.
''It helped me greatly,'' she said after nearly 10 minutes of bowling. ''I think it's great. It keeps the arms and muscles moving, so that's good.''
(wnyt)References: ohio, wnyt 1 Comment: on Wiihabilitation |
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