L01 — January 2011 — Wii-Hab

Intro: There's no doubt that playing a game on a Wii gets you off the couch and moving. Bowling, tennis, yoga. You can really get a workout before you know it. That's the concept behind a new occupational therapy program at Mayo Clinic. Some therapists are using Wiis to help stroke victims and other patients get back in the game of life.

Swing it! Oh my! Ooooo!

It's not rehab, but Wii-hab.

Use those muscles.

I came here a blob in a bed. (sound) When they finally got me into a wheelchair where they could wheel me down here, we started with bowling. (sound)

Barbara Pivarnak has been in the hospital for weeks. Recovering from complications of a bone marrow transplant.

I kept coming down here and doing more and more of it, and you get so involved in what you're doing that you don't know you're having a physical workout.

Occupational therapist Bernadette Luberda says that's the whole idea.

They're standing. They're sitting. They're actually using their arms, their legs, their balance, their muscles, and they're not realizing that they're actually working on their function and balance. (sound)

John Peterson's recovering from a stroke. The Wii helps his cognitive function, strength and coordination.

"The action in my hands and my eyes."

It gets people up, moving and enjoying the process. And when people enjoy what they're doing, they're more likely to stick with the program, and that means they get better faster. (sound)

This is unbelievable!

Using a gaming system to help get patients back in the game of life. (sound)

For Medical Edge, I'm Vivien Williams.

Anchor tag:

Of course, in addition to using the Wii, all patients in Mayo's occupational therapy program have traditional therapy sessions too. But one other advantage of using a gaming system is that people keep up their therapy when they go home. Because it's fun.

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