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, …read more




