Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Physical Therapy, Wii Style

Try half an hour of boxing and call me in the morning

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 6, 2007 5:38 PM CST

(Newser) – Some physical therapists have been prescribing the Wii for patients recovering from strokes or injuries. Doctors and patients say it's more rewarding to play the game system than go through tedious exercises. "This is more fun. It makes it more exciting. It gets me to work harder," a 51-year-old stroke victim tells Reuters.

One hospital in Columbus has been using a Wii for about four months. "I thought it was cool that you used your body to control the movement," says an occupational therapist who works at the hospital. The problem may come when patients have trouble getting their hands on a scarce game system when they go back home. "I wish I could find one," says one patient.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

A customer, right, hands over his credit card to purchase Wii video game console at the Nintendo World store in New York's Rockefeller Center in this June 21, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Richard Drew,... (Associated Press)

A famous video game creator for Japanese video game giant Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, demonstrates how to use the new fitness video game on the new balancing board controller for the company's video game... (Getty Images)

In this photo released by Nintendo, Dorothy Ayer, right, from Glendora, Calif. takes a break from shopping on 'Black Friday', Friday, Nov. 23, 2007 to play 'Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08' the latest game for... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

WiiSeniors News Clip (wiiseniors (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Doctor Who? MDs Fend Off Rising PhDs

A doctorate does not a doctor make, say many MDs

(NEWSER) - As more and more nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists are earning PhD degrees, a battle is raging over which health care professionals can use the prestigious title "doctor," reports the New York Times . Nurses especially are pursuing doctorates, eager to increase their pay and promotional opportunities—last year, 153 schools handed out 7,037 doctor of nursing practice degrees, compared to just four schools and 170 degrees in 2004—but PhDs are increasingly required in pharmacy and physical therapy, too. More»

Fate of Nintendo Wii U Likely Hangs on Price Tag

If it's $500, analysts don't expect great sales

(AP) - The upcoming Wii U, part tablet computer, part game machine, could help Nintendo surpass its rivals once again. But not until we know how much it will set us back—investors so far are skeptical of that and other unknowns, and the company's stock has fallen 10% since the Wii U's unveiling this week. Expectations for the new machine have been high following the original Wii's roaring success. Wii U, which will go on sale next year, features a motion-sensing controller with a tablet-like touch screen and high-definition graphics. Only the tablet screen feature will be unique to the Wii U. More»

Nintendo Announces Wii 2

New console will replace Wii, could be called 'Stream'

(NEWSER) - Nintendo will follow up its popular Wii with a new console system next year, the company announced today. The new system, which IGN notes is codenamed Project Cafe AKA Wii 2, will be showcased at Los Angeles's E3 Expo in June. The announcement comes as Nintendo reported sagging earnings and sales, AFP notes. Despite the Wii's popularity, sales have been declining as Nintendo faces increased competition from other console systems as well as iPhones and iPads. More»

Sorry, USA: No Wii Spanking Game for You

'We Dare' implies orgies will ensue, but it won't be released in America

(NEWSER) - Picture this: You're at a nice dinner party with friends, someone busts out the Wii, and before you know it, you're ... bent over a random guy's knee while he smacks your butt? That's the general idea of a UK video game called We Dare, in which a variety of innocent-looking games (the spanking one involves the video game characters flying around) require you to make out, spank each other, and apparently strip down. See the highly disturbing trailer to get the idea. More»

Wii Turns Woman Into Sex Addict

24-year-old needs a 'superstud' who can go 10 rounds a day

(NEWSER) - The Nintendo Wii: You can exercise with it, play Mario Kart with it…get turned on by it? Apparently so, says one woman who turned into a nympho after a fall from the Wii balance board damaged a nerve, causing persistent sexual arousal syndrome. Amanda Flowers, who now requires 10 romps a day, apparently actually said this to the Daily Star : “Hopefully one day I’ll find a superstud who can satisfy me.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Physical Therapy, Wii Style