Earlier we had reported that Nintendo Wii console helps surgeons to carry out surgeries smoothly. Now it has also been found that the Wii not only assists doctors but also helps patients to recover quickly. The popular console helps to rehabilitate patients suffering from strokes, broken bones, surgeries and also combats injuries.
Thanks to Wii’s motion-sensitive controller, patients can have a painless recovery. This new therapy is also known as Wiihabilitation.
Though the physical therapy is useful for patients to recover, they usually complain about it as it is very painful. However Wiihabilitation offers painless exercise to patients with the help of Wii Sports.
The whole idea is that patients suffering from strokes, broken bones, surgeries and also combat injuries are encouraged to play Wii Sports that require body movements similar to conventional therapy exercises.
Wii Sports games like baseball, bowling, boxing, golf and tennis require such body movements. But patients are so engrossed in the game that they do not realize the pain while playing. Hence, Wii is becoming a popular option for physical therapy especially amongst youngsters.
“In the Wii system, because it’s kind of a game format, it does create this kind of inner competitiveness. Even though you may be boxing or playing tennis against some figure on the screen, it’s amazing how many of our patients want to beat their opponent. When people can refocus their attention from the tediousness of the physical task, oftentimes they do much better,” said James Osborn, who oversees rehabilitation services at Herrin Hospital in southern Illinois.
Wiihabilitation is a great way to make patients exercise unknowingly. No doubt Wii is the highest selling console in the world as it has many usages just than entertainment.
