Wii Fit as Therapy for Cancer Related Fatigue

Activities available through Wii Fit are showing value as a user-acceptable therapy to help combat cancer related fatigue in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A nursing researcher from Michigan State University College of Nursing reported on her study that utilized Wii Fit Plus walking and balance activities with post surgical patients as they recover and transition to home. The participants in the pilot study funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Nintendo Wii game system utilized the virtual exercises to help them build activity tolerance while focusing on the fun of exercise.********************************** OTs often work with cancer patients post surgically to help them meet the goals highlighted in this study including reduction in levels of cancer related fatigue (for increased independence in self care), reduction in sedentary lifestyle (for reduced likelihood of post surgical complications such as pneumonia), increase in activity tolerance (for higher levels of independence in home management tasks) and increase in engagement in leisure time activities (for improved feelings of self worth, reduced feelings of depression - resulting in more willingness to engage in self care and other occupational roles). WiiHab activities offered in Wii Fit Plus, evidence-based approaches, should be used to help patients meet these goals. This study demonstrated that patients like this type of self paced, light intensity activity when recovering from cancer surgery even during chemo and/or radiation.

"Wii Therapy" in Detroit

Watching this video explains some of the benefits from the perspective of the patients using Wii in therapy. If a patient finds the therapy engaging they will be more involved. Hopefully then, the patients will push harder toward the goal and remain adherent to the plan of care. In this video, you will also hear the OT, PT and speech therapist explain why they find Wii-Hab to be such a useful tool to use in this setting.

Workshops Expand Therapists' Ability to Incorporate Nintendo Wii

Allegany College of Maryland hosted a "Wii-Marathon" for therapists October 2 and October 3. Therapists arrived from many states including West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to learn more about the therapeutic uses of Wii technology, an affordable, portable and easy to obtain therapeutic tool.
Penn State Abington, located in a suburb of Philadelphia, will host the next workshop. On October 21, 2009 occupational and physical therapists, along with Nurses and Nursing Home Administrators can be a part of this educational, interactive experience . Space is limited, so contact Penn State Abington Continuing Education to grab one of the few remaining spots.

Grant Award Brings Wii Into The Classroom

Since Nintendo brought Wii to the market in 2006, many avid players who also happen to work with individuals with compromised function recognized this tool’s potential for addressing deficits. A special needs teacher in Ohio saw many great ways that Wii activities could improve student outcomes in his classroom.

The teacher, Kevin McDaniels, applied for funds to purchase the needed equipment for his classroom through Mid Ohio Energy Cooperative, INC’s Community Fund because Kevin recognized that using Wii complimented student time spent in occupational and physical therapy. Using Wii activities in the classroom seems to help students improve hand writing and balance by challenging both their fine and gross motor skills.

Although Nintendo has lowered the price of the Wii Console recently, the dollar amount needed to bring the benefits of Wii into classrooms and rehabilitation clinics may be in excess of usual pre-set budgets. Grants and donations have historically filled budgetary gaps in programs focusing on helping address needs in many communities. Most communities have organizations ranging from service groups to corporations willing to help programs reach out and serve those community members with specific needs.

Interested occupational and physical therapists as well as teachers can learn more about skills for grant writing and finding potential donor organizations by attending a grant writing workshop available often through area high school or college adult learning programs, found through internet searches or through companies, such as Grant Writing USA

Using Nintendo Wii in Therapy: Benefits Seen Over Time

WiiHab - Rehabilitative Therapy Using the Wii by the "Wii OT” has been up and running for over a year now. Thank you for all of your visits and emails. So many people have responded to my blog. Not only have other occupational and physical therapists and students sent emails and responses but also family members whose loved ones are recovering from TBI, stroke or joint replacement and are benefiting from using Nintendo Wii have contacted me from time to time. And these responses have come from many states like Pennsylvania and Georgia and from countries far and near to the USA like England, Sweden and Canada. The use of Nintendo Wii as a therapeutic tool continues to spread, while therapists, researchers, and patients alike continue to recognize the advantages of including this tool in plans of care.

Just the other day, another article appeared in print and online about the benefits of using Nintendo Wii to help people recover from injury, illness and surgery. This article highlights 2 important points. First, mention is made that Wii offers an opportunity for socialization, helping reduce feelings of isolation. Second, this overview states that using the Wii is fun. Bringing fun into therapy helps patients who are dealing with a changing health status to reduce feelings of anxiety. Learning to use adaptive devices or learning to do familiar things in new ways is easier when feelings of isolation and anxiety are reduced. Reducing feelings of isolation and anxiety is such an important part of therapy.

So again, thank you for your support. Post your experiences in the comments section for all to see.

High School and Middle School Special Needs Students in Oregon To Benefit from Wii-Hab Pilot Program

As planned, Lon Thornberg, along with the occupational and physical therapists who he works with in Oregon, spent two days observing ways that activities and exercises available through Nintendo Wii might benefit children with special needs. The article posted on No Limits to Learning describes the program designed to help these three dedicated individuals develop a program for their students that will incoroparte the most effective Wii programs for their student population.

Activities offered through Nintendo Wii Sports provide opportunities to improve :

1. motor skills, especially gross and fine coordination,
2. cognitive skills, especially sequencing, memory and recognition

as well as many other areas.

If you have used activities offered through Nintendo Wii in a school based setting, please let Lon and me know about your experience.

FIFTH ANNUAL GAMES FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE

The Fifth Annual GAMES FOR HEALTH conference, made possible in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, takes place June 11-12 in Boston, MA.  "The Healthcare Guy" posts what Ben Sawyer, co-founder of Games for Health, has to say about the upcoming conference.  This article provides both a good background on the history of gaming for health as well as a glimpse into the newest games available for the therapy toolkit.  

One game that Mr. Sawyer mentions is Electronic Arts' EA Sports Active.  This game features a personal trainer who leads the participant through a workout that really makes the player break a sweat.  This game encourages the participant to strengthen the upper body, build endurance, improve balance and strengthen the lower extremities. 

During a recent "Wii-Hab - Using Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting" Seminar, a student was very interested in using Wii activities for high level patients in an outpatient occupational therapy and physical therapy rehabilitation setting.  EA Sports Active  provides high level activities that may be well suited for that population.  

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.

  

Sensory Processing Disorders (Part 3 of 3)

(More on sensory processing disorder…)

 

School-based therapists recognize the entwined nature of the sensorimotor performance components and program plan accordingly.  The Wii provides another tool for the therapists, allowing them to challenge and grade movement through space as well as encourage targeted actions.  Are any readers using the Wii in your setting? 

 

Therapists must also identify issues in other performance areas such as cognitive and psycho-social.   Manifestations of problems within the cognition and psycho-social arenas will be discussed in future posts.

 

Please post your experiences under the comment section because in sharing your experience, you help increase everyone’s knowledge base.

Sources:

·        The Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center

 www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html

·        Kranowitz, CS., Miller, LJ. (2005). The Out-of-Sync Child.  New York, NY. Penguin Group.

·        Bhojne,U, Chitnis, A. (2002). VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. The Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy. XXXIV(1).3-6. Retrieved from http://medind.nic.in/iba/t02/i1/ibat02i1p3.pdf

 

Wii Sports - Learning the Basics

When a therapist chooses to use a new technique for rehabilitation, the first step is to become familiar with the basics. Using the Wii as a therapeutic activity or exercise requires the same approach. Dan Birlew authored You & Wii – Everything You Need to Know and Prima Games, a Division of Random House, published it. This book not only explains the basics, but also includes a full explanation of Wii Sports. By reading this book, the therapist can learn what Wii Sports offers.

Wii Sports offers both an opportunity to play a game and an opportunity to improve skills. In the Bowling Training section, power throws can be utilized to increase standing tolerance and standing balance, build strength in the upper extremity, encourage shoulder flexion and improve flexibility throughout the upper extremity. Once the player has signed into this activity, they are allowed 10 throws to knock down as many pins as possible. This training module builds in difficulty as the bowling lane as additional pins are added. On the first throw, the player attempts to bowl down 10 pins. By the tenth throw, the player bowls the ball into a field of 91 pins.

The therapist can increase the workout gained from Wii Sports activities in so many ways. By simply placing wrist weights on the targeted upper extremity or by increasing the length of time that the participant must stand while playing are just a sample of the ideas. Have you tried using any of the Wii Sports training sections? If you have, you know that by spending time in an existing activity, the participant can open new training games. Once earned, these new challenges appear on the menu.