OT Students in North Carolina Research Benefits of Wii

Two professors along with six occupational therapy students from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina are conducting a study into the effectiveness of Wii activities for Seniors(over 60). More specifically, these researchers will look at the impact of one game in the Wii Sports suite on quality of life, confidence in preventing falls and social skills in a specific population - those over 60 who live in a retirement community. The research team hopes to release the results of the study in January.

Students across the country are planning studies using Wii activities as the independent variable or the tool that is manipulated by the researcher. In the study mentioned above, the researchers have identified three dependent variables, quality of life, confidence in preventing falls and social skills. The researchers hope to find changes in those dependent variables as a result of the "application" of the independent variable which in this case is Wii Bowling. To find the anticipated changes this group of researchers will use a Pre-test, Post-test approach, which means that they will survey each group before the intervention (application of the independent variable) and then again after the intervention. The scores obtained from these 2 surveys will be compared using some statistical test. Usually the results of the statistical test is calculated using a computer program such as SPSS. The Wii intervention will prove to be effective if the difference between the 2 scores(Outcomes)are determined to show statistical significance, in other words, the differences in outcomes are so large that these differences probably are not due to chance.
Research requires perseverance and attention to detail. I look forward to reading the results of this study.

Exercising With Wii? This Link Suggests Doing Some Research.

A writer working for a Philadelphia online paper, the Examiner.com focuses on Wii Fit. In her article posted on September 8, 2009 she suggests that Wii Fit enthusiasts compile research to build the evidence needed to support the value of Wii Fit. The author, Raina Casare lists 4 steps Wii Fit players should follow to compile needed support of Wii Fit’s value as a true tool for virtual reality fitness.

As therapists, following these same steps can help us gather data supporting Wii Fit’s importance as a therapeutic tool for occupational and physical therapy.

Many students choose to do research aimed at boosting Wii as a tool for therapy. From time to time, students write to me and ask for help on these projects, but many forget to share the outcomes once they finish. If you completed a study involving Wii, why not post information about it under comments. In truth, these early studies and surveys lay the groundwork for more in depth Wii-Hab research in the future.

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.

Robert Wood Johnson funds video game health research

Robert Wood Johnson foundation has devoted more than $8 million to fund Health Games Research, a research group dedicated to discovering more about how video games can be used to improve health. The goals of the program are to support research that either increases physical activity or improves self-care (the activities involved in taking care of oneself).

This research funding is a wonderful step towards developing an evidence-base that supports use of video games as therapeutic activities. Many of the movements involved in playing the Wii or other interactive video games are already based on evidence and research that certain tasks improve balance, strength, coordination, and self-care abilities. Continuing to conduct research in this area will yield even more information about how providers can implement the use of video games in their practices and bring this technology to a wide variety of patients.