The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

US hospitals launch Wiihabilitation

Console proves medical hit

The Wii is proving a hit across the US medical scene. Several US hospitals have admitted using the Nintendo console as an additional method of post-injury patient rehabilitation.

Dubbed 'Wiihabilitation', the treatment has already been used in various US-based hospitals to treat patients recovering from a wide scope of injuries, such as to the spinal cord. According to a report in The Telegraph, a hospital in Southern Illinois, which bought a Wii for rehabilitation purposes last year, has already found that the console helps patients to refocus their attention from tedious tasks.

A hospital in North Carolina has also been using Wiihabilitation on a whole age range of patients, even those in their 80s, becuase the console helps to improve endurance, strength and coordination.

Nintendo has been quick to jump on the marketing wagon and state that, although it doesn’t market the Wii for such uses, it’s "happy to see that people are finding added benefit in rehabilitation".

The Wii has already undergone a series of ‘medical trials’. Researchers at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Arizona recently reported that surgeons performed better during simulated surgery after spending a little practice time on the Wii.

However, if you’re looking to shed a few unwanted pounds, then the Wii’s probably not your best option. Because, a group of Canadian university students have deduced that it’s not much good at shifting, say, numerous takeways and nights on the lash.

Latest Comments

As long as it doesnt mean

Their entire training program just consists of trauma Centre Wii

0
0

Wiihabilitation

What a great made-up word.....similar to "Safetergent" (as in the Woolite ads). Oh...hang on.....I hate that advert.....

Actually there's legs in using a console like this for rehabilitation....it stimulates the mind (and cheers people up - and happiness is one of the best things for a patients health) as well as offering light exercise and a chance to improve co-ordination.

Wii's on the NHS anyone??

0
0

A little late???

The Rehab Centre in Deansgrange, Dublin have been using them for nearly a year. A mate of mine who had a stroke was telling me about htem.

0
0

Does this mean...

...I can get myself a Wii on the NHS?

0
0

More from The Register

Microsoft reveals Xbox One, the console that can read your heartbeat
Upgrades Live service – and no always-on requirement
 breaking news
Review: Sony Xperia SP
The new mid-range marvel? Oh yes.
US boffin builds 32-way Raspberry Pi cluster
Beowulf cluster built for the price of a single PC
Dell's PC-on-a-stick landing in July: report
Wyse up, suckers, could this be a new set-side-stick?
Review: HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook
All roads lead to Chrome?
Borked your iDevice? Pay EVEN MORE to have it fixed by Applecare
Or scream at their hapless techies on their forums
HTC woes prompts 'leave now' tweet from former staffer
Chief product officer latest to bail from sinking mobe-maker
Euro PC shipments plummet into bottomless pit of DOOOOM
11th quarter of decline, 20pc drop on last year - Gartner