WII and Chartered Physiotherapy: Using technology to make Rehab fun

But now the use of Nintendo Wii & Wii Fit is being extended into the rehabilitation arena and at Physio4U our Chartered Physiotherapists are using this technology to make rehabilitation fun for our young and not so young clients.
Although the technology is new and the studies have yet to be done Wii is being used by chartered physiotherapists clinically in areas such as:

• Burns and Plastic Surgery
• Neurological Conditions (reported mainly from the USA)
• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

HOW DOES Wii WORK?

• When you play a Wii it requires the user to mimic a whole bunch of physical movements used in sports such as tennis or boxing.
• It is thought that the Wii is more than just fun because it helps the user to regain flexibility in areas that may not have been used for a period of time or that they may have injured at some stage.
• Since the Wii isn’t seen in the same light as traditional physiotherapy activities, patients respond favorably and simply have fun doing it, without focusing on it being a treatment.

But remember that Wii isn’t there to replace conventional chartered physiotherapy. Wii cannot assess and interpret the findings from an assessment that a Chartered Physiotherapist carries out. It cannot replace manual therapy that is often needed to increase joint range of motion and mobility as well as reducing a persons’ pain. It cannot replace education and advice that a Chartered Physiotherapist gives throughout a session or the encouragement that a person sometimes needs to do a particular activity that they would otherwise avoid as they are anticipating pain.

But what it can do is be a cool complement to the more traditional types of exercise and movement needed to help a patient improve mobility.

HOW DOES WiiFIT WORK?

Wii Fit can be broken down into four core areas:

• Yoga,
• Muscle Training
• Aerobic Exercise
• Balance Games

At Physio4U how are we using Wii:

Since August 2008 we have had the Wii and Wiifit up and running at the practice in Oranmore.
It is very useful as a feedback tool as there is both the visual feedback and the instructions that are audible to the player(s)

What do we use it for:

Improve muscle strength and co-ordination following ankle, knee and hip injuries

Improve balance following ankle, knee and lower limb injuries and or surgery by testing a person and comparing their own age and their Wiifit age. We then give them a series of exercises using Wii fit and other equipment we have available at Physio4u and then recheck their Wii age!!

The results and how they are interpreted by clients are really interesting. Some clients are shocked that their Wiifit age is so much older than their actual age and that pushes them to be more compliant/diligent with their exercise programme so that at their next session they can beat their Wiifit age.
It provides variety to a rehabilitation programme for people with chronic low back pain or following spinal surgery. By using selective programmes it encourages core muscle activation particularly by working on co-contraction and timing of the muscles.

In the future we are looking at validating the role of Wii and Wiifit in rehabilitation, but for now we are going to enjoy the fun and results that our patients get from using current technology to help them return to their pre-injury state.