Video Games: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain

Mon Oct 1, 2007 5:48PM EDT

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Treadmills and stretching are out: Physical therapists are turning to the Nintendo Wii to help the injured and infirm get their grooves back while increasing flexibility and strength. Click on over to see a video of a 70-year-old patient looking awfully spry as he hits a few balls in Nintendo's Wii Sports tennis game... all part of a medical therapy regimen.

This is hardly the first time that video games have been used for medical and health purposes. Nintendo's Brain Age series is popularly prescribed to help elderly patients stay sharp as a sort of "exercise" for the mind. Re-Mission was designed for children with cancer, helping to inform them about treatment while keeping their spirits up during therapy. The company says the game has been shown to actually improve the prognosis for patients, saying that players actually maintain higher chemotherapy levels in the blood, suggesting the game helps them stick to their therepy schedules [PDF link]. Check out the Games for Health initiative for more news on the topic.

The Wii, though, is moving gaming out of niche applications and into the mainstream because the console is so accessible to such a wide variety of players. (You should see my four-year-old play Wii Carnival Games.) The upcoming Wii Fit could be a real killer in this category for those who don't have the sense of rhythm that Dance Dance Revolution requires: Check out the video at the following link to see how it could make working out into something you look forward to, whether you're eight or eighty.

See, mom? I told you video games were good for you!

LINK: Nintendo Wii Providing Therapeutic Opportunity 

Comments on Video Games: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain

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  • 47 Posted by gnulove2@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wouldn't it be nice if medical insurance started covering a $300 Wii game system...hahaha... Only In America. And to ffrontier- who wrote, "teach teens how to live" Whoa Whoa hold up there... That is a terrifying thought. I would exclude that remark from any further pro-wii arguments. Considering, you would likely be supporting non-social, and perhaps violent teenagers. Eeek! I tell you though, I beat my 15 year old sister at Wii Boxing twice the other day, and I couldn't lift my right arm for two days-- I was out of shape, indefinately. But it only took a minute to start working up a sweat playing it. Wow!

  • 48 Posted by gushway on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    Okay! I'll admit.. i wanted to hate the Wii... but then i played it! As they say, its a 'real' workout, its fun... you're really 'IN' the game, much like any other sport. (I cant believe that i sound like a Wii groupie, for shame)

  • 49 Posted by geeksquad290 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    i played bowling with my friend at a gamestop and he pulled a muscle in his arm and i laughed XD

  • 51 Posted by austioh93 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hope this improves Nintendo's sales.

  • 52 Posted by jagman5000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    I LOVE THAT NINTENDO WAS THINKING OUT OF THE BOX EVEN IF THE GAME DON'T LOOK AS GOOD AS XBOX 360 OR A PLAYSTAION 3. THE WII IS STILL ALOT OF FUN AND YOU GET A WORKOUT.

  • 53 Posted by cookieloca20 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the Wii is one of the best video game systems out at the moment. I should get one for my grandma.

  • 54 Posted by a_1982_freeman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not if you're playing Super Mario Brothers 2, you'll wanna break the darn thing

  • 55 Posted by sjkroberto on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    lol thats cool i love the wii to i play basketball and after 11 rounds of boxing i get tired to :P its a good gaming system

  • 56 Posted by kandykraz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    What kind of a sick person is this!!! Trying to brain wash America with this article!! Video games are the reason kids are failing classes and getting over weight! I don't want America to turn into the fat country! I love this country and always want to be proud of it but I'm not sure I will be able to be if we alll turn into Tv and video game junckies!!!

  • 57 Posted by likes25 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    yeah, I'm going to play a video game right now, ciao

  • 58 Posted by alsafaro on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    HAH! All true... XD Video games DO help! And now we have scientific proof... Now we wait for the kids to say, "I TOLD YOU SO!" to their moms.

  • 59 Posted by spoildprincess10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a wii and it is really good for working out or just wanna have fun

  • 60 Posted by tm9870 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I love the Wii!!! It was hard to find but well worth the time spent looking. I play it with my 8 year old nephew and also with my 76 year old grandmother. We have a blast. I recomend it for anyone.

  • 62 Posted by lisanettles1990 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am an avid player of video games. I have tried the Nintendo Wii at a friend's house, and yes, his grandmother plays. The first time I tried it, she beat me at Wii's boxing (lol). When I said she was the oldest person I've seen play video games she said something along the lines of " it makes me feel young, who just wants to sit around just doing puzzles, NOT ME!!!" My friends says she plays a lot now that she is retired and he has said it has seemed to improve her over all health. It gets her out of bed and moving around he says. Video games for have improved my ability to read when i was in grade school. I played a lot of rpgs (role playing games) which relied heavily on text to understand what was going on. also playing football games got me motivated to play in real life. I believe it depends on the kind of games a person plays whether or not video games can have a health benefit. I believe that video games help hand eye coordination and reading abilites and now with the Nintendo Wii, i suppose it can help u get some exercise without dreading it as well

  • 65 Posted by kandykraz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    yall are soo brain washed just like heidi was brainwashed by spencer!!!!!!!!!!!!

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