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Wiihab - Just What Rehab Doctor Ordered
Wiihab? Physical therapists at Momentum Physical Therapy Center in Columbus, Ohio are prescribing Nintendo Wiis for some of their patients. It is also used at the Transplex Center for Medicine and Rehabilitation in Philadelphia.
(Physical therapists prescribe Wii time in Oz)
When I watch my son play, he really gets into it. He jumps, he hops, he's all over the living room. Apparently, patients also get a workout.
"Oh it's an excellent workout. You're going to feel it the next day. You get a good cardiovascular workout and your muscles will be fatigued," states patient Sean Ruckman at Momentum.
The physical therapy staff at Momentum claim that the Wii has helped patients of all ages and diagnoses; balance and range of motion are particularly affected.
"Some people call it 'rehabtainment.' It's kind of using rehab and entertainment at the same time. It really gets them into the game or into the thing so they don't even realize they're doing therapy," says Momentum Physical Therapist Lance Kelly.
Ned Crane, DPT, Director of Rehabilitation at Transplex believes the Wii can help patients build balance, coordination, and endurance as well as upper and lower body strength. Patients find the Wii system a fun way to help achieve their rehabilitation goals, and continue to set new goals and challenges.
As far as science fiction is concerned, Federation doctors have recommended the use of virtual reality environments like the holodeck for relaxation and rehabilitation for many seasons.
Now that the Wii has broken the ice, let's see if we can't get patients really moving:
- VirtuSphere Immersive VR Hamster Ball
VirtuSphere provides a mechnical basis for truly immersive virtual reality environments, permitting the user to move about in virtual space by simply walking. - Virtual Girlfriends Updated
Keeping your patient interested is the first step towards healing. - Wiimote Head-Tracking VR Display
To get patients moving in three dimensions, you need three dimensions!
Via the news on my son's Wii! and Nintendo Wii Is Not Just a Game and Philadelphia Physical Therapist Prescribes Wii Time.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/8/2008)
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