Using Mario Kart in Wiihab (Part 1 of 6)

Have you thought about using Mario Kart in therapy but are wondering what goals it can help your patients reach? This post is the first in a series of six on areas that Mario Kart can target for improvement as part of a rehab plan. Many of the areas that will be described in this series are important in conditions including pervasive developmental disorders and sensory integration dysfunction.


Photo by SMercury98 on Flickr

Post 1: Bilateral Coordination

Bilateral coordination is the coordinated use of both sides of the body at the same time, either in similar movements or in alternating movements. An example of a similar movement is using both hands to pick up an object or using both hands to throw a beach ball; an example of alternating movement is walking up the stairs or pedaling with the feet or the hands.

In Mario Kart Wii, players insert the regular Wii remote, which is rectangular in shape, into a wheel-shaped adapter. Because the wheel Wii controller is held and controlled with both hands, bilateral coordination is involved in playing the game.

Also, effective playing of the game can involve alternating movements, such as holding down the "2" button to speed up the kart while using the "b" button on the reverse of the controller to "drift" while in manual mode. (Manual mode is optional, and less advanced patients can play in automatic mode.)

Nurses in NY using Wii to complement rehabilitation therapy

A hospital in New York has been using the Wii as part of therapy for more than nine months. As the article reports. Candy Perotti, a COTA from St. Francis hospital in Poughkeepsie had this to say:

"The Wii system has been an asset to our rehab unit...The system encourages patients to perform the actual movements of the sport. Driving games help patients with visual tracking and scanning. Bowling, tennis, and baseball improve hand/eye coordination."

(As a note, the driving game mentioned is likely Mario Kart -- if you're not familiar with the game, it is a driving game that allows the player to attach the regular Wii remote to a driving wheel-shaped remote.)


Photo by Michael T. Gilbert on Flickr

The article also mentions that using the Wii can help improve memory skills, as the patient has to remember the motions and steps involved in using each particular game. The social aspects of playing Wii with others can also help aid in patients' feelings of loneliness or isolation.