Get with the Wii, uni boffins tell old folk (From Gazette)

Get with the Wii, uni boffins tell old folk

8:00am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(3)

SCIENTISTS in Colchester think playing on the Nintendo Wii could help improve the balance of elderly people who suffer regular falls.

Researchers from Essex University are working with patients at a Colchester General Hospital falls clinic to examine the effects of using the console.

If benefits are found, doctors could start to recommend playing on the Wii as a form of treatment.

It could help thousands of people across the country who frequently fall and cost the NHS and social services nearly £1billion every year in in-patient admission and long-term care costs.

The Wii differs from other home entertainment computer systems because players must perform the physical action required by the game they are playing.

When they hold the controller in their hand and mime hitting a tennis ball or punching a punch bag, the virtual ball or bag on the screen is set into motion.

The university’s experts believe the device could help frail elderly people by allowing them to become more active without taking the risks involved in getting out and about.

They are looking specifically at the Wii Fit, a version of the software which has games and accessories designed to improve balance.

Dr Murray Griffin, of the Department of Biological Sciences, said: “It is all about improving people’s quality of life and wellbeing so they have more confidence.

“One of the biggest problems with many types of physiotherapy aftercare is getting people to do the exercises.

“But as many people think the Wii is fun, we’re hoping more people will do the exercises.”

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust is jointly funding the study.

Its falls prevention clinic helps people suffer recurrently from falls to learn techniques to avoid tripping up and also ways of getting up without damaging themselves if they do take a tumble.

The Wii is already a popular tool in many homes for the elderly, due to the benefits of staying active.