SENIOR HEALTH & FITNESS DAY 2009

May 27, 2009 was National Senior Health and Fitness Day. As you may know, seniors who stay active and physically fit help themselves avoid some of the declines associated with aging; in particular, the increased risk for falls.

According to the website, www.fitnessday.com/ the common goal for this day is to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. Many health related facilities held special events to help raise fitness awareness in those who they serve. The life care community where I work scheduled many different events to encourage all of the residents at all fitness levels, to either stay or become active.

Occupational Therapy's interactive Wii Fit presentation proved to be a very popular. Thirty-five participants, many of which had never seen a Wii, a Wii Fit balance board, or a Mii before, enjoyed learning all about using the Nintendo Wii and playing the fun games. Wii Fit offers an exciting alternative to the more traditional machine-based exercises, encouraging participants to improve their balance, endurance, and strength while having fun and experiencing new technology that they know their grandchildren also enjoy.

Occupational Therapist to Pilot Wii Program for School Based Treatment

Using Wii as a therpeutic tool for the geriatric population recieves a great deal of press but the use of Wii based activities for children in school based programs is discussed only occasionally in the news.  In Oregon, an occupational therapist, with the help of the assistive technology specialist and trainer has planned an assessment day during which students will try out several Wii applications.  The OT will gather useful information about which applications are best for various motor levels and abilities.  This fact finding day, described in the May 7,2009 post on No Limit 2 Learning will provide a wealth of information.  Take a minute to read about this well thought out venture by clicking here.

  

New Wii Remote Accessory May Increase Therapeutic Value for High Level Clients

Nintendo plans to release a new accessory for the Wiimote.  The Wii MotionPlus can be easily attached to the remote. Once attatched, this device enhances the remote's ability to detect and reflect arm and wrist motions.  This increased sensitivity and accuracy may improve Wii's value as a therpeutic tool for rehabing higher functioning clients.  By enhancing the remote's ability to detect even the slightest movement of the wrist and arm, Nintendo might be making it easier to target specific muscles and to encourage increases in strength, coordination and endurance .  The release date for this attachment is June 8, 2009 for the USA markets.   

Students Enjoy "Wii-Hab - Using the Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting"

Allegany College of Maryland

hosted the most recent Wii-Hab workshops. Students learned how the games in Wii Sports and Wii Fit can be used as therapeutic activities (97530) and/or therapeutic exercises (97110) and/or Neuro-muscular re-education (97112) to achieve specific patient goals. The participants also had fun as they pacticed using Wii Sports and Wii Fit in innovative ways. Students also enjoyed applying what they learned by designing treatment plans for case study patients described as having poor endurance, weakness and lack of coordination.

Additional Wii-Hab workshops at Allegany College of Maryland are planned for October 2 or 3, 2009. Penn State Abington will host Wii-Hab: Using Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting on October 21, 2009. On Saturday, November 21, 2009, Wii-Hab: Using Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting, will take place in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area at Anne Arundel Community College's Arundel Mills campus.