Video Games Double Duty for Rehab Therapy

Knight Ridder

At 64, Eva Hinojos thought her minor stroke and recent congestive heart failure would rule out competitive sports.

But on June 15, under the care of her physical therapist, Hinojos knocked out her opponent during a fierce boxing match.

The room erupted in cheers, and she raised her arms in triumph.

And she did it all from her wheelchair.

Hinojos is part of a trend in physical rehabilitation that uses the Nintendo Wii video-game console to help patients improve the likes of balance, standing tolerance, eye-hand coordination and cognitive skills.

"It's been a long time (since I've played this game), but it was pretty good for a beginner, huh?" Hinojos asked after her virtual boxing victory.

The Wii uses motion-sensing remote controls to direct interactive games such as boxing, bowling, tennis and golf. The user holds the remote and swings it as if it were a tennis racket, or punches with a pair of remotes in the boxing game, and the animated player on screen mimics the movement.

"We pick a patient who is appropriate, and -- depending on what their leisure interests already are, plus what their physical and cognitive abilities are -- we set them up," said Adrienne Manhart, recreation therapist at Del Sol Rehabilitation Hospital. "Like with bowling, if they can use one arm, one hand, we can set them up in front of it and show them what bowling is like, and they work on their arm movements.

"They're working on their grasping, their coordination pushing the buttons, the timing, and they actually do a bowling activity," she said.

She said the games also are useful to help people working on their standing tolerance and balance. Area nursing homes also use the Wii system to help patients with rehabilitation and recreation.

All the therapy disciplines at the rehabilitation hospital use the Wii system, including recreational therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy.

"I think it's great, because when some people look at having exercise for therapy it's 'Ugh, I have to go exercise again,' " said Carolyn Pena, occupational therapist and therapy supervisor at Del Sol Rehabilitation Hospital. "But this is an entertaining form of exercise and therapy that allows you to still address their goals."

Manhart said Del Sol Rehabilitation Hospital has a wide variety of adult patients, including those recovering from stroke, cardiac episodes, hip or knee replacements, and head injuries.

"They really like it and they have a lot of fun with it," Manhart said. "They actually look forward to it and ask 'Can we do the Wii again today?' "

Stephanie Kwan, a physical therapist at the hospital, said the Wii system is more appealing for patients who otherwise would be

working on those movements through traditional exercises.

"Instead of wandering around the hall, it's more engaging, more lively," she said.

But Wii physical therapy isn't for every patient.

"If they're having cognitive problems, we don't necessarily want to have them do an activity that's going to frustrate them more. We want them to have a positive reaction to it," Manhart said.

She said bowling and tennis are the more popular games among hospital patients.

"Every once in a while we have gentlemen who like the boxing," she said. "Because they boxed when they were younger, they really seem to enjoy that. But it takes a lot of endurance, because you're constantly throwing punches."

Michael Faulkner, rehab program director for the 23-bed Del Sol Rehabilitation Hospital, said the hospital is considering buying other games for its patients, such as those that require the use of a balance board.

"You do from time to time have very young patients, spinal-cord patients or patients who have suffered a brain injury -- we're talking about people in their 20s and early 30s -- and sometimes they're very well preserved after an accident," he said. "A high-level balance exercise like that would be not only challenging, but also fun for that patient."

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Copyright 2009 by Knight Ridder