How Wii-habilitation can get Patients on the Road to Recovery.

Many techniques are used in the rehabilitation of patients. Some, as you might expect, are more traditional and commonplace than others. However, did you know that some NHS health trusts are now using the Nintendo Wii to assist in the care of patients recovering from fractures, strokes and other brain injuries?

It may sound a little unconventional, but the hand-eye coordination, concentration and movement involved in playing Wii games are all hugely effective in helping rebuild muscle memory and other cognitive skills. As the road to recovery can be lengthy for some, it’s important to incorporate a number of rehabilitative exercises that will help patients to regain their strength. By making these activities varied, accessible and even entertaining, many believe that they can speed up the process.

This is certainly the theory behind the Nintendo Wii initiative.

The variable movements allow for a gradual rehabilitation within the home. As a result, this is convenient for both the patient and the healthcare professionals looking after them. After all, with a Wii, you can play anywhere (as long as there is a television) and at any time. Whilst it’s important that usage is monitored and restricted in cases where damage may be done, it’s a more engaging and entertaining method of recuperation.

This is certainly the view of the Birmingham Community Healthcare trust, which has been using the Nintendo Wii as a part of its patients’ rehabilitation for a number of months. Using games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, helps to build strength, mental agility and can also be a distraction from the often painful recovery process.

One of the many benefits of using the Nintendo for “Wii-habilitation” is that the user can control the level of movement. If unable to swing arms or move about fully, patients can simply use cursors or select a less strenuous game. Equally, it’s easy to track individual progress. As the body recovers, it should become easier to perform certain activities, which will be reflected in the level of difficulty and ability to score.

Consequently, people can assign targets and build confidence without having to leave the house. Alastair Gordon, an Occupational Therapist that works closely with Birmingham Community Healthcare and a wide range of patients, explains why the Wii has become a vital part of the treatment process; "There are many techniques which clinicians use while helping patients, but 'Wii-habilitation' certainly bring some fun and enjoyment to the day-to-day activities which help patients on their road to recovery."

This element of fun is a key part of the process. Rehabilitation from serious injuries and strokes is time consuming, frustrating and sometimes painful. Therefore having an activity that patients can look forward to and engage with is a great alternative for community healthcare officials when dealing with patients. Combined with other exercises, it can have a profound effect on the speed and success of rehabilitation.

This post was provided by the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust. For more information about patient recovery, please visit their website.

On-line Wiihabilitation course

Click here for on-line Wiihabilitation course, courtesy of Care2Learn

Written by Geoff Mosley, PT, NCS

OTs Wii too

The vast majority of emails, queries or comments received through the Wiihabilitation are either members of the public or physiotherapists.  A handful of Occupational Therapists have been in touch and it would be inaccurate not to acknowledge them.  The website is written by a physiotherapist, so perhaps doesn't focus on the functional/occupational tasks that OTs work towards.  It is not a criticism of the OT profession that there use of the Nintendo Wii is less published- their roles are diverse and can easily be fulfilled without the aid of technology.

There is no doubt that there are a good number of OTs who use the Nintendo Wii regularly within their practice to help people develop hand function skills, cognitive abilities, perception or sequencing skills. Their work is difficult to find without a

The links below show case some work carried out by OTs and their work with the Nintendo Wii.  If you know of other work, please add using the comments box below to share with other readers.

Occupational Therapy case study (2008)

Use of the Nintendo Wii in Occupational Therapy (2008)

Wii OT blog site (regularly updated)

Using the Nintendo Wii in Occupational Therapy (2010)

Wii-HAB: Using the Wii Video Game System as an Occupational Therapy Intervention with Patients in the Hospital Setting (2010)

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS UNITE: WIIHABILITATION IS MORE FUN THAN PRESCRIBED EXERCISES! (2008)

From reading any of the blogs, articles or websites above, the similarities between OT and physio is all too apparent.  It only goes to prove how closely related the professions are in their aims to promote movement and independence.  The information available for Occupational Therapists is as valuable to physiotherapists as the physiotherapy information is for Occupational Therapists.  The research found listed within this blog can be applied to an movement based therapy and provides a growing library of evidence reporting the Nintendo Wii's value within therapy in general.

Wii Game Box Inlay - summary for quick therapy reference

Through using the Nintendo Wii at work I am aware that whilst I can navigate around the games with ease and from memory many of my colleagues don't have the same level of familiarity and therefore struggle to choose appropriate games.  This either causes the set up of the console and game lengthy or it leads them to abandon the idea of using the console for a more conventional therapeutic activity.

To try and assist I created a template that I have summarised individual games and then print out.  The information then fits within the game sleeve and is viewable as a quick reference - listing the most common/most beneficial games for therapy.

You can find a word document to download with two examples of the Wii game prompts here.  If you feel they are beneficial and have a particular game that you want to use it with please feel free to email me, as I may have it already written up and formatted.