It seems the Nintendo Wii games console may not just have fans amongst casual gamers, young kids and pensioners, but also physical therapists. The machines are actively being trialled as an effective rehabilitation system for stroke victims and a whole range of other injuries.

Newsday are reporting that the Bridgeport Hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit has introduced the Wii as part of it’s inpatient therapy and is already seeing results.

It tells the story of Barbara Everlith, a stroke victim who finds standing, walking and grasping objects difficult since falling ill. One thing she has started to do though is play tennis, using the remote controller and a copy of Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii which the hospital has installed.

Her physical therapist Courtney Benedetto, claims that the game has allowed her to regain some function in her hands.

“Just standing there and swinging the tennis racquet is going to be great for her, I’ve never seen her hold her balance steady for that long.”

Bridgeport Hospital isn’t the only institution to realise the Wii has potential outside of it’s design as a pure games machine, with Facilities in Minneapolis and in Edmonton, Canada, also integrating the machine into physical therapy programs.

Even injured American soldiers are said to be using the console in Landstuhl, Germany to help them regain their strength, although I suspect that’s more just an excuse to get a few rounds of competitive tennis in without being seen as slacking off.

So there we have it, conclusive proof that the Wii has broken out of it’s intended mould and is being used for good in the world. How many PS3 and Xbox 360 owners can claim that their console of choice is helping injured victims regain their normal lives?

Not only is this a brilliant use of technology for something other than its intended use, but it is also getting knowledge of the Wii to people who normally wouldn’t know a DS from a PSP. I can only see this helping Nintendo to carry on selling more consoles than Sony and Microsoft, as I can see many people wanting their own Wii after getting used to playing one day after day in hospital.

Related:

Wii: how Nintendo got its groove back

Is a new Nintendo DS on the way? - Rumors and denials…

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Nintendo business school: Sponsoring a learning event to sell the DS

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Entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 11:17 pm under Gaming, Technology.  Print This Post

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