Nintendo Wii May Help Cerebral Palsy Patients
September 24 , 2008
A recent study revealed that the Nintendo Wii may be a good source for rehabilitation among children with cerebral palsy. The case study examined a 13-year-old boy who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
Authors of the study had the patient participate in 11 training sessions over the course of four weeks, using both the Wii and routine physical and occupational therapy.
Each session ranged from 60 to 90 minutes long, utilizing the sports game software, which includes boxing, bowling, tennis and golf. The participant engaged in the sports in both sitting and standing positions throughout the course of the study.
“Improvements in visual-perceptual processing, postural control, and functional mobility were measured after training,” the researchers reported.
Use of the Wii could be a Breakthrough in Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation
Judith E. Deutsch, PT, Ph.D., professor and director of Research in Virtual Environments and Rehabilitation Sciences (Rivers) Lab in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at UMDNJ–SHRP, spearheaded the study.
Deutsch has been focusing her attention on virtual reality-based stroke rehabilitation for the past 8 years and says use of the Wii may provide an alternative to the expensive high tech virtual reality robotic systems they are currently using for rehabilitation. Because the Wii is commercially produced, it is readily available, unlike the current robotic systems, she added.
“This case study shows that the Wii may give us additional tools to complement the standard of care, perhaps make it more diverse,” Deutsch said.
The article outlining the results of the case study is available online and will be published in the October print issue of the American Physical Therapy Association’s journal Physical Therapy.
(Source: NewsWise)
Has your child been diagnosed with cerebral palsy? If so, contact us for more information about rehabilitation alternatives. We will also connect you with an experienced legal professional who will ensure you and your child receive appropriate compensation for medical bills and any other damages related to the condition.
