Wii-hab may enhance treatment for Parkinson's disease |
Ó
Whoever thought there could be such a thing as Wii-habilitation?
No,we're not talking about repairing a damaged Wii. According to the
study conducted by Dr. Ben Herz, program director and assistant
professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences Department of
Occupational Therapy, the Nintendo Wii may aid in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition that impairs the body's motor skills."The Wii allows patients to work in a virtual environment that's safe, fun and motivational," says Dr. Herz, program director and assistant professor in the School of Allied Health Sciences Department of Occupational Therapy. "The games require visual perception, eye-hand coordination, figure-ground relationships and sequenced movement, so it's a huge treatment tool from an occupational therapy perspective." He even conducted a study to back it up.
Dr. Herz gathered 20 Parkinson's patients and had them play Wii for an hour three times a week for four weeks. These patients were all in a stage of the disease where both sides of the body are already affected but with no significant gait disturbances yet. "By the middle of the study, we actually had a number of people who could [defeat] their opponent out in the first round, which amazed us," says Dr. Herz.
Participants were found to have increased levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that's deficient in Parkinson's patients. More dopamine meant that the patients' voluntary functional movements were improved. That's not all. Dr. Herz also found that the patients' depressions went down to zero. Wow.
With a US$ 45,000 grant from the National Parkinson's Foundation to fuel his research, Dr. Herz's next step is to test the Balance Board and expand his studies. "I think we're going to be using virtual reality and games a lot more because it provides a controlled physical environment that allows patients to participate in the activities they need or want to do. A patient doesn't have to go to a bowling alley and worry about environmental problems or distractions," he said.
On that note, Dr. Herz shared his positive opinion on gaming: ""Game systems are the future of rehab," he said. "About 60 percent of the study participants decided to buy a Wii for themselves. That speaks volumes for how this made them feel."
More on Wii fitness:
Via MCG News
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Comments [refresh]
"By the middle of the study, we actually had a number of people who could [defeat] their opponent out in the first round, which amazed us," says Dr. Herz"
Learning to play a game equals Parkinson's recovery?
"Perhaps most impressively, most participants' depression levels decreased to zero."
Wow that's a major claim there, zero depression because they played the Wii a few hours a week.
"Studies have shown that exercise and video games independently can increase the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitte r deficient in Parkinson's patients. He suspects that's the case with the Wii’s exercise effect. Dopamine also helps improve voluntary, functional movements, which Parkinson’s patients "use or lose," Dr. Herz says."
ALL exercise and ALL video games have this effect. Why is the study centered around promoting the Wii? Did Nintendo provide the grant money?
"I think we're going to be using virtual reality and games a lot more because it provides a controlled physical environment that allows patients to participate in the activities they need or want to do. A patient doesn't have to go to a bowling alley and worry about environmental problems or distractions," Dr. Herz says."
So it's better to stay home and play the Wii rather than go to a real bowling alley? That's just offensive saying he doesn't think people with Parkinson's should go outside.
"Next he plans to test the Wii Fit balance board with Parkinson's patients and expand his studies to multiple sites."
Don't forget to test the new Wii vitality sensor and recommend buying it as well!
The wii in itself isn't curing them genius, what it makes people do is. Repeated need to react quickly, make large body movements etc makes your body try adapt itself to those things. These people can't do the real activities (usually) to get these benefits, so the Wii is an amazing substitute.
Again, it's not the Wii reducing (or apparently even eliminating) the depression, it's what it makes them do. For a start, they're to some level, overcoming a degenerative disease. That's impressive, and being able to do those things is going to cheer anyone up.
Yes, all excercise, and all games do promote dopamine production, and development of areas of the body. Excercise and games do however focus on singular areas when Parkinsons needs focus everywhere. The Wii does this, so it just simplifies it, stopping something being missed, which would lead to degeneration of the area.
He never said people with Parkinsons should stay inside for all their lives. But at varying stages of it, going outside can become increasingly difficult. Obviously it will be better for them to go to the real thing, and probably cheer them up more too, but it's not realistic for even a completely healthy person to go every day, and that's what's needed.
And if the Vitality sensor can be used in some way, why shouldn't they buy it?
This isn't a case of Nintendo fanboyism on the Dr's part, it's a case of the best equipment for the job. The PS3 and 360 can't do this. Maybe when Natal comes out, that could change, but for now, it's all down to the Wii.
Never take anything this guy says as being serious. He's just some dumb kid who does NOTHING BUT troll this site, talk shlt about everything Wii related and close to NEVER, understands anything he reads.
Even if you spell it out for him, he still can't understand.
He doesn't understand what it means to HELP people. To make people FEEL BETTER. He can't grasp the concept of helping people even if it's just a LITTLE BIT.
He has NO CLUE what's it like to have such a disease. So when someone claims that a depression level has been decreased, he can't understand what that ACTUALLY means or where it comes from.
Just look at this:
"I think we're going to be using virtual reality and games a lot more"
He thinks that equates to:
"That's just offensive saying he doesn't think people with Parkinson's should go outside."
Just think about that for a second. HE TRULY BELIEVES that was said. He actually thinks that!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
Never underestimate a stupid kid such a Mr. Common Douche Bag
To ISOHeavy
Actually my grandmother had Parkinson's you worthless prick.
I know firsthand what it's like.
I find it offensive dumbass "doctors" are promoting commercial products rather than spending their grant money to seek real life cures for the disease.
He's saying "don't go outside and try to enjoy what you can out of life, go buy and play a Wii instead."
You are a worthless troll can can go f*ck yourself iso.
Be glad you are healthy (other than hugely obese and disgusting) and don't need to worry about the country's f*cked up medical system.
Physical therapy (which was around for many many years) is just as effective as using a Wii, which this joke of a doctor does not seem to care about.
ISOHeavy is just as bad as rush lindbaugh.
He insulted Michael J Fox because of his gestures and difficulty speaking, calling it "overracted."
You know him, right ISO? He's one of your conservative news sources.
"He has NO CLUE what's it like to have such a disease. So when someone claims that a depression level has been decreased, he can't understand what that ACTUALLY means or where it comes from."
BTW, f*ck you. You have no idea what it's like to be anyone other than a fat, incredibly ignorant, and pathetic human being.
Now that that's out of the way....
Any videogame can relieve depression. That's why this research is FLAWED and is centered on PRODUCT PROMOTION.
The medical industry is ALL about profit and greed, and "studies" like this literally make me sick.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! !!!
1. No one believes you. Your grandmother did have anything. If that where true then you would be 100% for this article.
Nothing but lies!
2. Rush? Screw that jackass. More lies and deception from you. All you do is lie.
The fact that you replied the way you did, only further proves how right I am.
If this "research" was worth a damn,
it would have compared different types of therapy, not Nintendo's complete lineup of fake fitness products.
Nintendo nor this doctor gives a rat's ass about the well being of Parkinson's patients, they just are after money and Nintendo wants free advertising.
What are you laughing at? Yourself? You're the best running joke around this site. I'll call you Rush from now on, based on how inconsiderate you are of the less fortunate.
Do I care what you believe? Anyone who disagrees with Dumb nuts here is a "liar" or "dumb kid," that's how he justifies his incredible ignorance and stupidity.
I can only hope in the future people are not stupid enough to believe advertising disguised as real life medical research, and doctors can turn away their ill gotten gains and instead do VALUABLE research aimed at finding a cure.
"based on how inconsiderate you are of the less fortunate."
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! !!! The only person here being inconsiderate IS YOU!!!
Have you ever been evaluated? Wow!!!!
Again, no one believes you. For the exact reason I gave. You are soooooo full of shlt!