The Nintendo Wii has been around for quite some time now and is noted to be a popular console especially among families. Now according to a research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2010, the Wii can be much more useful than just bringing fun into the household. According to the study, the virtual reality Wii game technology may just hold the key to improving the motor function of recovering stroke patients.
“This is the first randomized clinical study showing that virtual reality using Wii gaming technology is feasible and safe and is potentially effective in enhancing motor function following a stroke, but our study results need to be confirmed in a major clinical trial,” commented Gustavo Saposnik, M.D., M.Sc., director of the Stroke Outcomes Research Unit at the Li Ka Shing Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital.
The research fathomed that the virtual reality elements employed by the gaming system was a feasible and safe way to develop motor function after a stroke. The study conducted mainly focused on the movements of the patients’ impaired arms and how the Wii system helps in developing fine and gross motor function.
Saposnik continued, “The beauty of virtual reality is that it applies the concept of repetitive tasks, high-intensity tasks and task-specific activities, that activates special neurons (called ‘mirror neuron system’) involved in mechanisms of cortical reorganization (brain plasticity). Effective rehabilitation calls for applying these principles.”
Twenty survivors were split into two groups; one was randomized to playing recreational games like Jenga or cards while the other was given to play Wii tennis and Wii Cooking Mama. These activities were conducted over eight sessions which lasted around 60 minutes each and spanned across two weeks.
He further added, “Basically, we found that patients in the Wii group achieved a better motor function, both fine and gross, manifested by improvement in speed and grip strength. But it is too early to recommend this approach generally. A larger, randomized study is needed and is underway.”
The results that ensued found that the Wii group did not experience any adverse effects resulting in safety of all its members. These patients used the Wii technology for around 364 minutes in the total session. Researchers also observed that there was significant motor improvement in speed as well as the extent of recovery in these particular patients.