Playing Games with the Wii
Last week the Nintendo Wii celebrated its first birthday. I've been prompted to post about the use of the Nintendo Wii game console in rehabilitation for some time now. The prompting has come from various sources, such as colleagues who hate it, colleagues who purchased one for their clinic, TV commercials, and a startling number of news pieces on the use of the Wii in rehab. I've resisted responding thus far, not for lack of interest, but for lack of opinion. More correctly, conflicting opinions. While I appreciate that any press can be good press, is the Wii something good for physical therapists?
At first glance, using a video game in the clinic may seem silly. The use of Wii in rehab is not currently supported by research, and tying the use of a video game console to a billing code requires some stretching. I'm skeptical that the movements required by the Wii are all that functional, and of course, they are not strengthening by nature. If one does not already own the Wii, it becomes a very expensive piece of home exercise equipment. However, the Wii has enjoyed almost viral popularity among game connoisseurs, the media, the elderly, and quite a few rehab providers, even the military.
Are these providers featured in news pieces about 'Rehabbing with the Wii' truly leading the charge to incorporate technology into practice, or are they fad followers looking for some cheap marketing?
My guess is that there is some limited utility for the Wii in neurological and pediatric physical therapy settings, but that the rage will fade and physical therapists will realize they possess much more powerful tools with which to treat their patients.
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