11/30/2009 5:25:00 AM
Getting to Know... Wii-Hab
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BY BRITTANY FULLENKAMP
Times Bulletin Multimedia Coordinator
bfullenkamp@timesbulletin.com
Van Wert Manor has been providing short and long-term care for patients for more than 30 years. While they provide a variety of services to individuals, one of the more transforming services is what they call "Wii-hab."
The Nintendo Wii, a video gaming system, was launched in November, 2006 and quickly became the hottest-selling system across the country.
The Wii is unique in the way the video games are played. Instead of sitting on the couch with a wired controller and pushing a sequence of buttons to create character actions, the player stands up and uses the wireless remote as if they are the character in the game. For instance, one of the games included is bowling. The player holds the remote and swings it to throw the ball just as they would at the bowling alley.
The remote detects the motion in three dimensions, and as the player performs the movements, the character on the screen mimics the actions. There are several movements that can be simulated including bowling, tennis, golf and baseball to name a few.
It wasn't long before researchers began studying the effects of the Wii in rehabilitation centers around the world. A study in Physical Therapy Journal found that use of the Wii with an adolescent with cerebral palsy resulted in "positive outcomes at the impairment and functional levels."
Van Wert Manor is looking for those positive results in Wii-hab. Jacque Welch, Administrator for Van Wert Manor explains, "The Wii can work on balance, strength and hand-eye coordination. The patients stand up and sit down throughout the game; they can stand up and sit down 50 times and not even realize how many muscles they use."
The team sets different goals for each patient within the program and uses the Wii to help make it more entertaining. For example, if a patient needs to work on building leg strength to walk, instead of just standing in one spot for 15 minutes, they can play a tennis match against another patient or even their therapist. The patient is still receiving the treatment they need (standing for a period of time), but they have more fun and may not even realize they're exercising.
Rehabilitation Director Tracy Offerle explains that the Wii is used in physical and occupational therapy to improve areas such as range of motion and joint movement. Studies have been and continue to be done on the impact of those with Parkinson's Disease, arthritis and even Alzheimer's.
Van Wert Manor also uses the system and one of the accompanying games, Wii Fit, to work on balance and strength. Wii Fit includes a board that measures balance and weight. The user can do yoga, strength training, aerobics and a variety of balance games.
Wii-hab also adds the elements of fun and social interaction. "It's entertaining," says Offerle, "The patients get to play sports and games they otherwise wouldn't be able to; it's a form of nostalgia." Welch agrees, "A few who've haven't bowled for a really long time start bowling (on the Wii) and then talk about how they used to bowl on leagues when they were younger."
Social interaction is improved as patients (and therapists, too!) will compete to see who can get the most spins in hula-hooping or the highest score in bowling. "You can have something to converse about, have somebody to brag about your score to," says Welch.
The majority of the patients are curious or really enjoy working out on the Wii. "Everybody wants to exercise on the Wii because you get to have fun and you don't realize that you're burning all of those calories," explains Welch.
Welch encourages anyone who may be interested in the program to stop by and see what it's all about. Van Wert Manor is located at 160 Fox Rd. and can be reached at (419) 238 - 6655 or online at www.vanwertmanor.com.
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