Wii-habilitation

Jim Osborn, executive director of Rehabilitation Services with Herrin Hospital in Herrin, Ill., is a big fan of Wii, Nintendo’s popular gaming console, but not for the reasons you might think. According to Osborn, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists all employ Wii in various aspects of patient treatment at Herrin and other rehab facilities across the country.

The system allows a player to put on a wristband and, with a remote unit, interactively play virtual sports like boxing, baseball, dodgeball and bowling. As the player moves, the movements are simulated by a character on the screen.

Osborn says “Wii-habilitation” is being used with both inpatients and outpatients with a variety of neurological and orthopedic impairments in Herrin’s acute rehab unit.

“Functionally, the Wii has been used as a treatment strategy for back pain, trunk balance, standing balance, upper extremity strengthening, upper extremity range of motion, gross motor coordination, eye-hand coordination, endurance and cognitive training,” Osborn says. “The game system does not replace traditional therapy techniques, but augments them.”

Playing Wii allows patients to forget about their physical pain and get motivated to do more physically, he says, noting it works particularly well for those who are recovering at home.

“Often, older patients who were relatively inactive prior to their injury or surgery report at discharge that they want to acquire a Wii to continue activity at home.”

Participating in this type of gaming at home can provide a diversion from routine and strenuous exercising in the therapy gym, Osborn says, noting that Wii can help sedentary seniors and kids alike to get some exercise.

“I truly believe that the Wii system, which some people are calling ‘virtual reality therapy,’ will prove beneficial in ways far beyond our current vision,” he says. “Technology is always opening new doors for us. This is just the beginning.”

An occupational therapist helps a patient play Wii tennis at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Institute for Rehabilitation and Research.