We knew Wii sports was an easy way to workout and burn a few calories, but never expected hospitals to start using the Wii for rehabilitation. According to Edmonton Journal, the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is the first in North America to use the Wii technology to treat patients with movement and balance issues.
Apparently one patient in particular has progressed from his wheelchair, unable to bend at the waist or pick up things from the floor state and can now stand and play in front of a TV screen, swinging the Wii-mote like a golf club and generally have a rocking good time..
Dr. Grigore Burdea, who is a leader in computer-based virtual reality techniques in rehabilitation therapies, told the paper he thinks in five years every hospital and rehab clinic will have embraced the gaming technology for their patients. Here's more:
"People are addicted to games, but in this case, the addiction is towards a good cause," Burdea said. "Bill Gates (billionaire founder of Microsoft) would be wise to sponsor this kind of research."
Crave Maternity
Wow, that is WONDERFUL!
I love my Wii, but to hear its helping people like that... amazing.
1What a great way to use it!
2What a great way to use it. My boyfriends brother just got one last night. They were both out of breath and sweating. I told them they need to hit the gym more! LOL
3The Wii is truly one of the greatest innovations of our time!
4Great idea! I love the Wii sports!
5Hey all--
Just wanted to shout out and letcha know-- I'm a boxer, and that guy in the photo is my boxing trainer, Albert.
He suffered aneurism just after Christmas last year, and has been hospitalized ever since. He was training to fight in the silver-gloves tournement.
The University of Alberta hospital's Wii program is such an amazing use of technology-- taking something that's normally used to encourage sedintary behaviour, and utilize it for positive, physical benefits.
Hurray for geeks and the stuff they invent!
6Hey Kitsune! Thanks for the comment. That is a really, really amazing story! Kudos to you and Albert!
7That's a great idea. Clever way to sneak in asking Bill Gates for money, too.
And Kitsune, I'm so glad he's recovering.
8wow, it´s amazing how can the games can be useful too!
9This is a great idea and it must make rehabilitation a little fun!
10Bill Gates owns microsoft... which makes Xbox. so i don't think he'll be to happy on sponsoring the Wii (which is made by nintendo)
11I think this is totally and completely brilliant!!!!
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