Tutorial Five:Video Production Sessions.

Using Wii for Rehabilitation

In today's technology driven world, Occupational Therapy is keeping up with the times and modifying its means of rehabilitation by utilising new technological resources such as the Wii.

While working at a pediatric brain injury rehabilitation clinic I witnessed first hand the benefits of using the Wii. The children that were admitted to the clinic had prior experience of using the Wii and were motivated to attend  therapy sessions due to the fact that the were able to "play" on the Wii.

 Children with cerebral palsy use Wii to assist with their co ordination and balance.

 

 The Wii machine involves the individual to simulate the movements that is required for the "character" to perform on the game. Certain games were used to achieve different means of rehabilitation. From working on their cognitive ability, where an individual was needed to follow a set of instructions correctly and in a sequential order to successfully complete the game, to working on their balance and co ordination while hula hooping
  

 Simulating activities that are more meaningful to an individual will enhance the rehabilitation and motivate the individual to fully partake in therapy.

 

 While working at a Traumatic Brain Rehabilitation Clinic for adults, I have personally used the Wii machine to improve fine and gross motor movement according to a particular game. Kareoke is used in group therapy to encourage and promote socialising and assist with any speech deficits an individual may acquire post injury.

  

 The Wii can be used by a number of population groups according to age, gender and disability. It is a great rehabilitation tool that is slowly infiltrating its way into rehabilitation clinics all around New Zealand.