Saturday, March 5, 2011

Wii-Hab - Utilizing Wii Fit and Other Wii Programs in Therapy


The utilization of activities offered through Nintendo Wii continues to gain popularity with rehab therapists working with multiple populations. Just recently, an article from the Boston Herald appeared online in Therapy Times highlighting the improvement a young girl experienced following therapy for a traumatic brain injury. Not so long ago, an article about Rep. Gifford's rehab mentioned Nintendo Wii as a likely adjunct to traditional therapy.
Often my readers write and ask how Wii activities might be useful for their loved one.

Addressing specific cases would be difficult through an online platform such as this blog. So mostly, it is suggested that those looking for a therapist use care in selecting the setting for their particular situation. On MASTERSDEGREE.COM the writer provides a list of 15 questions to help those looking for a therapist of any type know what questions to ask before signing up. In the rehab setting, the opportunity to hand pick the therapist is rarely available. But usually rehab therapists, OTs especially, use a client-centered approach, assuring that the plan of care targets the individual's needs and learning style. If the therapist is familiar and comfortable with technology and Wii equipment is available, a high likelihood exists for including Wii activities since so many therapeutic objectives (as mentioned throughout this blog) can be addressed in an engaging way.
If your facility has either not embraced Wii technology yet or has put Wii away on a shelf, contact me at OTRMershon@gmail.com. I will work with your facility mangers to bring a Wii-Hab Workforce Training Session geared toward your specific population to your location.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

this is good