Exercise
Nintendo Wii
What Christmas gifts have you bought? Why not consider the Nintendo Wii?
The Wii games have drawn physiotherapists' attention to not just the kind of injuries they may cause but the benefits they could give to patients of great variety of medical conditions. Researches have confirmed its benefits and have suggested neurological (brain and nerve) and geriatric (old) patients to play certain Wii games to improve eye-hand coordination, limb function and balance. Recently, a patient of mine has significantly improved her extremely weak neck muscles by exercising/playing a specially designed Wii game with the hand piece modified to attach to her forehead. Similar to all sports and activities of daily living, there are always risks of injuries. As long as the appropriate games are chosen, proper playing techniques are advised and warn up and stretches are performed, I am sure Wii's benefits out-weight the risks.
As medical professionals, we are sometimes to blame aggravating patients' conditions! If you are tired, rest! If walking causes pain, sit down! If stairs are painful, avoid them! These could be true in the acute or early stage but patients often take the advice as excuses not to exercise. Clear instructions must therefore be given to patients, preferably day one before they disappear from our clinics, to stress the importance of restoring function and activities. I do believe that our muscles and minds are all naturally lazy to exercise. Stimuli are required to make us exercises, be it health, beauty, trophy or just fun. The Nintendo Wii games are fun for some patients who may not exercise otherwise. If so, they should be encouraged to play with precautions considered.
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
The Wii games have drawn physiotherapists' attention to not just the kind of injuries they may cause but the benefits they could give to patients of great variety of medical conditions. Researches have confirmed its benefits and have suggested neurological (brain and nerve) and geriatric (old) patients to play certain Wii games to improve eye-hand coordination, limb function and balance. Recently, a patient of mine has significantly improved her extremely weak neck muscles by exercising/playing a specially designed Wii game with the hand piece modified to attach to her forehead. Similar to all sports and activities of daily living, there are always risks of injuries. As long as the appropriate games are chosen, proper playing techniques are advised and warn up and stretches are performed, I am sure Wii's benefits out-weight the risks.
As medical professionals, we are sometimes to blame aggravating patients' conditions! If you are tired, rest! If walking causes pain, sit down! If stairs are painful, avoid them! These could be true in the acute or early stage but patients often take the advice as excuses not to exercise. Clear instructions must therefore be given to patients, preferably day one before they disappear from our clinics, to stress the importance of restoring function and activities. I do believe that our muscles and minds are all naturally lazy to exercise. Stimuli are required to make us exercises, be it health, beauty, trophy or just fun. The Nintendo Wii games are fun for some patients who may not exercise otherwise. If so, they should be encouraged to play with precautions considered.
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist