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Nintendo Wii

ALISON

Posted: Saturday, April 12, 2008 2:44 PM

Joined: 3/31/2008
Posts: 50

Hi OT practitioners and OT students! Tons of people are doing research on the Wii and need YOUR help. Let's share our ideas and tell each other how the Wii is beneficial in OT practice!

j2kneip

Posted: Monday, April 14, 2008 8:34 PM

Joined: 4/14/2008
Posts: 2

I am an OT grad student working as a rehab tech at a small outpatient clinic where wiihab is a small part of treatment plans for clients (geriatrics and peds) used to treat and exercise cognitive skills, body awareness, bilateral coordination, dynamic standing balance, to name a few performance skills. As part of the child-driven aspects of SI-based therapy, the wii ranks highly as a requested activity. It is something that these individuals (5-6 yrs old) are in contact with outside the clinic (or at least aware of) and recognize as desirable for a variety of reasons i'm sure. Let the research continue to investigate the social/cultural aspects of new gaming systems related to the tendency for individuals to use and participate as well as the direct physical and functional outcomes that may be reached. Let it be known and understood that the wii is a tool to be utilized by a competent OT that has very specific goals in mind for the patient, guiding performance throughout the entirety of the activity.

kstachel

Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008 7:33 PM

Joined: 4/17/2008
Posts: 1

I did a project using the Wii™ for my Level 2 Fieldwork in Fall 2007! It is great for a number of performance skills! I worked on the neuro team at an adult acute rehab facility where the game was great for hand-eye coordination, motor planning, visual scanning...and more! I also think that the Nintendo DS is great! IT works on visual-perceptual, fine motor, and more...

Mickey2265

Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 7:38 AM

Joined: 4/14/2008
Posts: 4

I am at my last internship at a small traumatic brain injury rehab center, and we us the Wii as well. Yesterday one of our clients went to the Behavioral Optomitrist and was prescribed the Wii for visual scanning. Another client has hemiplegia and uses it for ROM and strength. It amazes me the vast areas that this little device can improve and work on.

Kimberly09

Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:49 AM

Joined: 5/8/2008
Posts: 2

kstachel- Can you tell us more about the project you did with the Wii?!? I am about to start my first Level II in neuro outpatient, and I am really interested in using the Wii as a fun way to treat patients! Thanks!

NKBOTR

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:15 PM

Joined: 5/9/2008
Posts: 2

There is a new Wii game that was just released in the U.S. called Wii Fit. I am wondering if it works well on trunk stability, balance (which is mentioned in the advertisement), body awareness and motor planning. If anyone has used this game I would love to hear your input. For those who haven't heard about it you can go to this link and find out more. If this game is the real deal it would be a great one to use for research. http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit/en/#/home/

Alison Johnston

Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:06 AM

Joined: 7/23/2008
Posts: 1

I have used the wii fit with the spinal cord injury population to work on trunk control, UE strength, and body awareness with great results! I have had patients sit on the board and weight shift laterally and anteriorly and posteriorly as well as having them prone on their elbows and weight shifting at the elbows and shoulders and also prone over the edge of a mat with hands on the wii fit board and had them play the game that way to work on shoulder stability, head control, trunk extension etc.... Then of course it can be used the traditional way by standing on it. Hope this helps.

Amber_H

Posted: Sunday, October 19, 2008 6:28 PM

Joined: 4/17/2008
Posts: 2

I'm doing a level II rotation right now in a hand clinic which is (like most others) very biomechanical. They have a Wii, so I'm trying to figure out some good games to help work on the UE, especially wrist flexion/extension. Any ideas?

Cori

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:29 PM

Joined: 2/11/2009
Posts: 2

Does anyone have any current data on this topic? I am considering purchasing the wii and wii fit for my private pediatric practice. Thanks.

zephyr_unleashed

Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:01 AM

Joined: 7/20/2008
Posts: 1

You could actually use Wii Sports-Baseball, as the pitcher. The ball can be pitched with just the flick of a wrist....Try it.....cause that's how I pitch , it doesn't require your shoulder....If you try it, I would like to know how that turned out.

zephyr_unleashed

cfota

Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:41 PM

Joined: 10/15/2008
Posts: 7

i work in LTC with population between 65 and 100 years. varying levels of cognition and ability. using the wii has proven more difficult than i thought it would be, the residents don't seem to enjoy it as much as the staff thought they would. in rehab, potential is good, practical not so much..... we, the therapy staff, had more fun than the residents/patients. in reality the pt's enjoyed balloon volleyball more. with pediatrics it would be great... we have an interactive computer system (high dollar) provided by the facility. driving with steering wheel, flying a plane, bicycling down a lane. they enjoy it and can be done sitting or standing. good luck

Thesa

Posted: Friday, October 02, 2009 11:07 AM

Joined: 4/11/2008
Posts: 1

What kind of games are therapist using for Wii-hab?

Average 4 out of 5