Wii for Balance

Here is an article on having fun while you work on your balance from Lisa Rockey SPT.

Technology advancements never cease to amaze me.  There is always a new gadget or device that can do a million things.  The Nintendo Wii has changed the way video games are played.  I think it is all pretty clever.  It makes a typically sedentary activity (video gaming) an active game that is fun for the whole family.  The Wii and the WiiFit are being used not only for fun and games but in physical therapy as well.  The device is actually a very sophisticated piece of equipment. This allows for your PT to design rehabilitation homework that is not only beneficial but fun.  This makes it more likely you will actually DO your home program!

A 2010 study was published in Gait and Posture called "Validity and Reliability of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board for Assessment of Standing Balance."  This study compared the Wii Balance Board to a force platform device (a laboratory device that measures the forces a body is putting on the ground during activities such as standing or walking).  These researchers examined the reliability and validity of both devices to measure the center of pressure.  In simple terms, they compared the Wii and the force platform to see if they were consistent (reliability) and measured what they were supposed to measure (validity) in relationship to a persons actual center of balance.  A small group of young adults had to complete four standing challenges:  standing on one leg with eyes open, standing on one leg with eyes closed, standing on both legs with eyes open, and both legs with eyes closed.  Both the Wii Balance Board and the force platform device were good to excellent in the reliability and validity. 

So what does this mean?  Well, next time you are playing on your WiiFit and you advance in stages you know you actually improved your balance.  Also, the next time your PT gives you rehab "homework" you just might be playing games!

Lisa Rockey SPT