Nintendo Wii as Parkinson’s Treatment
June 13, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Who thought the doctor might prescribe a video game to help with a disease?
Dr. Ben Herz, a Medical College of Georgia (MCG) researcher, says that the Nintendo Wii could help treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Herz says that since the Wii requires visual perception, eye-hand coordination, figure-ground relationships and sequenced movement, it’s a big treatment tool for occupational therapy.
The pilot Wii study involved 20 Parkinson’s patients spending an hour playing the Wii three times a week for four weeks. Preliminary study findings were presently recently, and participants showed “significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels.” Also, most participants’ depression levels decreased to zero!
“About 60 percent of the study participants decided to buy a Wii for themselves. That speaks volumes for how this made them feel,” said Herz in a recent MCG news release.
(Image via Nintendo)
