Patient Education

The use of Nintendo’s Wii® video game system in physical and occupational therapy is a growing trend across the country. While not specifically designed for rehabilitation, Wii has proven beneficial in treating various diagnoses and movement dysfunctions. Considered a progressive technology, Wii provides visual, auditory, and haptic feedback that is helpful when rehabilitating the dysfunctional movement pattern.

Patients use the Wii’s unique, motion-sensitive controller to drive the game’s activity on the television screen. They "go through the motions" they would for a variety of sports, such as bowling, tennis, baseball and golf, and an animated character simulates the patients’ actual moves.

Many Wii games require body movements similar to traditional therapy exercises. For patients, this means building arm strength, enhancing range of motion, as well as improving balance and coordination.

But unlike traditional therapy, patients engaged in the competitiveness of Wii games often forget about the tediousness of the physical task, and are able to rehabilitate in an innovative and fun way. The system’s ease of use and its interactivity make Wii a unique and rewarding experience for patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric, presenting with a wide range of conditions.

Many rehabilitation facilities across the country—including Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers—have already implemented Wii into several of their patients’ plans of care. It’s important to note, though, that while Wii certainly complements physical therapy, it does not replace traditional standard of care rehabilitation techniques.