Fall, Football, and Wii-Hab

Occupational and physical therapists in the Northeast have two upcoming opportunities this Fall to attend Wii-Hab: Using Nintendo Wii in a Therapeutic Setting. Therapists in the Baltimore/Washington area can still sign up for this course being offered at Anne Arundel Community College on Saturday, November 21, 2009. To sign up, contact Continuing Education by phone at 410-777-2325 or email at iscenter@aacc.edu This course runs from 8AM until 4PM. If your favorite football team has any kick off time other than NOON, attendees will be able to enjoy both experiences in one day. Call today to secure a spot in this interactive and engaging continuing education opportunity.
On December 5, 2009, therapists in South Jersey may attend this Workshop at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
Sign up today and enjoy this opportunity.
OTs, PTs, COTAs, and PTAs will gain continuing education credit in a fun, active program that will help build confidence in using new technology with clients who have various diagnoses including joint replacement, stroke, cancer related fatigue, COPD, and others.

Wii-Hab Meets Medical Illustration

An artist, who received her MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Advertising Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, which is located in my hometown of Savannah, GA, created wonderful visuals depicting the crucial aspects of Wii-Hab. Angela Moramarco infuses the very human components - the brain, the muscles, the bones and the soft tissue - into the very technical components - the remote and the console - of Nintendo Wii. These great illustrations tell a concise story. Nintendo Wii, when used correctly in a therapeutic setting, helps patients build new connections within the brain and between the brain and the muscles. For some patients therapy can be difficult and repetitious. Wii offers occupational and physical therapists a versatile tool to use as a part of the therapy plan not only for improving strength, endurance, and flexibility but also for improving sequencing and problem solving in a variety of patient settings including pediatrics (autism, cerebral palsey, PDD) and geriatrics (stroke, joint replacement, fall prevention).

WiiHab in the News Throughout The Summer (Part 1)

Frequently, during the summer months articles appeared in newspapers, on television, and in blogs explaining the benefits people gain when Wii activities are incorporated into their rehabilitation programs. In June, the El Paso Times printed an article about Del Sol rehabilitation center’s use of the Wii in their Physical and Occupational therapy programs. The accompanying picture tells the whole story! Also in June, Hulig News ( an independent public news organization) placed a great story on line about a patient at University of Wisconsin, Madison’s American Family Children’s Hospital. This story offers some insight into the versatility of Wii as a therapeutic activity. More positive reviews of Wiihab can be found when you read an article from June 15, 2009 in the Vail Daily. Therapists in Silverstone, Colorado include many different Wii programs into the plan of care for their patients. They report improved outcomes, particularly with knee replacement patients. A study which will contribute to the evidence-base for using Wii in therapy for knee replacement patients is taking place in Toronto. Researchers hope to complete this study by the end of the year.

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.