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Friday, July 25, 2008

NINTENDO Wii being used as form of therapy

By IRIS HERSH Staff writer

Nintendo's Wii, the video system that couldn't stay on store shelves, has a second purpose as useful therapy to help people recover from accidents and illnesses.

After a car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, Mike Cordell began using Wii games for cognitive and physical therapy in the Outpatient Physical Medicine Department at Chambersburg Hospital. Using a Wii cognitive game, Cordell views four pictures and must indicate which is different in some way than the others. Answers are measured for accuracy and reaction time. In a memory game, he views a series of objects or numbers and repeats them backward.

It's good brain exercise for anyone," said Kylie Osman, speech therapist at the hospital.

Jamie Smith's right side was affected by a stroke, which resulted in a problem with her balance. As a small part of her therapy, Wii games were used to get her to balance her weight on both feet. By moving her weight backward and forward and side to side on a Wii balance board, she controls the characters on the screen.

"Paralyzed on the right side, Smith's brain ignores her right side, and the game makes her aware of that side," said Rebecca West, physical therapist, adding that the game can have great therapeutic benefit. "This game gives her a visual of where her weight is. Pediatric patients love the Wii therapy."

Angie Myers, occupational therapist, uses Wii games in therapy with Smith to help the patient relearn to use and extend her thumb.



Other games can enhance eye-hand coordination.

"A tool not meant for therapeutic use, Wii games can make therapy more fun for patients," said Barrie Sheffler, Chambersburg Hospital's director of physical medicine. "It's one more tool in our numerous methods of care."

Wii sports programs are used in rehabilitation to help patients participate in the sport on the outside, Sheffler said. After amputations, patients can use the Wii golf or bowling program to help them master the sport they wish to play.

Wii programs can be valuable for those with neck and spine problems and it has components for yoga positions, which work certain muscle groups, Sheffler said. The difficulty of the game can be increased by patients as their abilities and needs increase. Patients will feel it when certain muscles are used, she said. Progress can be viewed on the screen so patients can see themselves progressing.

HCR ManorCare in Chambersburg has Nintendo Wii for its patients to use for mental and physical stimulation and enjoyment.

The equipment will soon be used as part of therapy for all types of patients, said Joel Desotelle, occupational therapist and director of rehabilitation at HCR ManorCare. "It's a multi-dimensional functional activity that enables patients to address their deficits in a motivating and fun environment."

How Wii works

Wii is operated by a motion-sensitive controller that requires patients to move their bodies as they would if they were doing the activity they're seeing -- such as bowling or tennis. It's similar to traditional therapy exercises, said Joel Desotelle. He said, "Wii reduces the monotony of the routines of traditional exercises and is exciting and mentally stimulating."



http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_9990429

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