Wii being used to help stroke victims recover

Posted Oct 1, 2007 at 1:56PM by Karl B. Listed in: Wii Tags: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ó


Nintendo Wii - Image 1Even though video games have always gotten a bad rap for turning kids into couch potatoes, a group of physical therapists are using a video game console to help people get back on their feet.

According to Minnesota's WCCO-TV, physical therapists at the the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis are using Nintendo's Wii home video game console in an experiment aimed at helping stroke victims recover.

"It is not designed to be used in therapy per se, but some of the games are very useful to activate the patient, then it is a matter of, from a research point of view, to try to develop these concepts to something that is dedicated, specialized for research... for rehab," said Sister Kenny Research Center director Lars Oddsson.

There are only a few hospitals around the U.S. trying this kind of therapy, but Oddsson says that the experiment's promising results could lead to a clinical study of the Wii's helpfulness as a physical therapy tool. WCCO-TV also noted that the Army has also started using the Wii for physical therapy.

Via WCCO

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by Charlybob - 2007-10-01 10:32
» It's good to see things like this happening

This, and things like @home on the PS3.



Good to see that the consoles can have other uses besides amusing gamers.



They're also an excellent "**** YOU!" To Jack Thompson.

by Burn_Griffith - 2007-10-01 21:45
» I agree

Speaking about Jack Thompson. He shouldn't be a lawyer at all if he's gonna abuse his rights and say; "Go ahead son, you can buy a M rating game". And that he's been defeated by countless Florida based judges.



Not only is he immature, but also childish and foolish as well. And 2nd of all, he's not being a responsible parent.



If he claims himself to be a "christian". He would definitely not be doing stuff like that. And he certainly would not be letting his son purchase an M rated game, especially if he's under aged.

Add comment

Security code
Refresh

Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!