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Physical therapy through gaming

Q. My husband’s best friend recently suffered a massive stroke. We thank God he survived and was able to go home. He lives in a remote area and his wife still has to work, so attending rehab will be a challenge. My husband thinks a tablet could be used for therapy. Are there any applications that could be downloaded? Could you tell us how to find apps that help with rehab? Thanks very much.
-Linda from Fairport, NY, listens to my weekly radio show on WHAM 1180 AM.

A. Oh, dear! I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope he can speed down the road to recovery. Technology will be a great tool to guide him.

A tablet does make a good therapy tool in some areas. There are some apps that could help the recovery process. For example, brain-training apps such as Brain Genius Deluxe can help with concentration and mental stimulation.

For stroke patients, however, doctors are using another gadget. Rehabilitation facilities across the country are using the Nintendo Wii as a fun form of physical therapy. It even has a great name - “Wii-hab.”

You may think video games are good only for keeping people glued to the couch, but Wii games aren’t just about mashing buttons. You move just like you would in the real world to dodge punches in a boxing game or swing a racket in tennis.

For physical therapy, this gives it an advantage over static computers and tablets. Doctors see it as a great way to regain balance, motor control and strength.

When a player is focused on the game, they don’t realize they’re doing similar movements that they would in physical therapy. This makes the difficultly level less obvious.

Games also help provide motivation to keep going and give a unique reward system. As players progress, they strive to beat the game - no matter how difficult. And beating a tough opponent or level works like a benchmark to track patient improvement.

Of course, there are brain-training games for the Wii, such as Big Brain Academy, for times when the patient is tired.

Another major plus to this approach: The system is going to be cheaper than a new tablet. The average price for a new Wii online is only about $170, compared to a $500 iPad.

Some stores bundle Wii Sports Resort - a popular choice for Wii-hab - with the system, so you’re ready to move right out of the box. New games retail for about $60, but some great fitness titles cost less than $20.

I’m not a medical expert, so he should definitely consult a doctor before starting any exercise or physical therapy program. Your doctors might be able to suggest specific games that would be best for his needs.

We all want to stay in shape, but healthy habits can be difficult. I have some great ways to make fitness a little easier.

Read this and other articles at Kim Komando


 
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