MCG's DR. HERZ PRESENTS RESULTS OF STUDY OF WII THERAPY AND PARKINSON'S

Completeing the research and publishing the studies that form the basis for evidence-based medicine takes time, money, and expertise. Lead researcher, Dr. Ben Herz, from Medical College of Georgia, is among the first researchers to publish a study which demonstrates the benefits of using Nintendo Wii in a therapeutic setting. On June 12, 2009 he presented the results of his study that examined the benefits of an occupational therapy intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease using actvities available through Nintendo Wii .

Those attending the fifth anual Games for Health in Boston heard Dr. Herz's report that the study participants demonstrated a decrease in depression as well as an increase in agility. These improvements would be very beneficial to someone with Parkinson's since those with Parkinson's disease experience both depression and bradykinesia (slowing of movement).

Gathering Evidence of the Effectiveness of Wii-Hab

Therapists are always encouraged to think in terms of evidence-based approaches when designing treatment plans for their patients.  Local newspapers and blogs , including WiiHab - Rehabilitative Therapy Using the Wii, often publish stories about Wii and the use of Wii Sports and Wii Fit in therapy.  The March 2, 2009 addition of Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners published an article by Elizabeth Karan that included treatment success stories for 2 patients who had suffered strokes.  She told about improvements in balance and endurance as well as improved function in ADL performance and ambulation.

Gathering actual evidence-based outcomes take time because researchers must design a study, gain approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), and in many cases, find research subjects to study before finally conducting the experiment and collecting the data.  But researchers are busy doing all of those things to find out just how effective the Wii is for therapy.  Medical College of Georgia is conducting a study to determine if occupational therapy enhances the treatment for Parkinson's Disease.  

Playing Wii is part of that treatment.  

Judith E Deutsch, Megan Borbely, Jenny Filler, 

Karen Huhn and Phyllis Guarrera-Bowlby published

a case report in October of 2008 in which they explained 

the benefits playing Wii had for an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy . 

Now, a researcher in Canada is looking for subjects

 to participate in her study as she works to 

measure the

therapeutic value of active video games,

 including Nintendo Wii.