Nintendo Wii at the Center for Physical Therapy

Since its release in 2006, the Nintendo Wii has become one of the most popular gaming consoles on the market. As inferred by its name “Wii”, Nintendo made their new gaming system to be enjoyed by individuals of all ages.

Recently the Wii has become popular in unlikely places. Retirement and nursing homes give the residents an interactive fun way to become active again. Rehabilitation clinics have also turned to the Nintendo Wii console to adjunct traditional treatment. The original Wii games used controllers in either one or two hands allowing the player to use upper-extremity gross motor skills. Wii Fit poses the same challenges on the lower- extremities. Wii Active combines upper- and lower-extremity fitness with cardio action.

Center for Physical Therapy has introduced Nintendo Wii to its rehabilitation facility with use from the pediatric to geriatric population. The therapists at Center For Physical Therapy believe Wii is an interactive way for patients to improve musculoskeletal strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, and it is a fun way to gain these benefits. Wii also allows us to track progress and set goals for patients that allow them to visualize the improvements they are making.

We offer Nintendo Wii in adjunct to traditional land-based physical therapy and aquatic therapy. Patients who have used the Wii system during physical therapy express how exciting and motivating the treatment workout is; they are eager to use Wii as part of their therapy routine.