Can you imagine having a stroke and having your world change
in an instant?
Well that is the reality for some individuals in today’s
society. Stroke is the fifth largest cause of disability in the world. Closer
to home stroke is the third largest killer in New Zealand, that’s about 2500
people every year. Breaking that down further everyday about 24 New Zealanders
have a stroke. A quarter occur in people under 65 years, Stroke Foundation of
New Zealand, (2013).
A recent approach in rehabilitation for stroke patients is
the use of Nintendo Wii games that
are better known, as ‘WiiHab’, or 'Wii-Habilitation'. These
are virtual reality Wii games that
are played on a play station or a computer providing patients with a
controlled, safe and individualized therapy that is multi-sensory,
multidimensional and functional Saponsnik et al., (2010).
Based on my experience, during my second year placement there are different Wii games that occupational and physiotherapists can use in rehabilitation. In
my first two weeks of placement I was fortunate to play some games such
as, Ten Pin Bowling, and Cooking Mama against some patients to
experience the competitive and interactive atmosphere in which patients
thoroughly enjoy. Coincidentally this led on to me facilitating multiple individual and small group Wii sessions consisting of two to three patients from the ward. Occasionally the sessions consisted of more patients, in which my supervisor would help me to co-facilitate the group sessions.
Wii games create a stimulated and fun environment for patients to develop a range of skills and learn task based techniques.
Wii games create a stimulated and fun environment for patients to develop a range of skills and learn task based techniques.
Four common Wii games
that occupational and physiotherapists use as interventions for improving upper
limb function for stroke patients in rehabilitation are:
- Cooking Mama
- Tennis
- Standing Balance
- Ten Pin Bowling
These Wii games
involve a lot of upper limb hand movements to improve patient’s fine motor
skills. Cooking Mama uses movements that replicate peeling an onion, cutting a
potato and shredding cheese.
Tennis involves upper limb movements to hit the ball over the net.
Standing Balance involves patients standing on a balance board that consists of four sensors to measure patients centre of balance, and weight distribution in standing.
Standing Balance involves patients standing on a balance board that consists of four sensors to measure patients centre of balance, and weight distribution in standing.
Ten Pin Bowling involves upper limb movements using the hand
controller to release the ball.
Through my observations I strongly believe incorporating Wii games into physiotherapy and occupational therapy practice is beneficial to improving patients upper limb
function of the affected limb. This has been further justified by studies from Saponsnik et
al., (2010), that Wii games help patients to redevelop connections and long-term potentiation within the brain. These motor patterns are developed from repeated stimulation and task orientated training of the affected limb, ultimately leading to functional improvements after stroke.
References
Sapsonik, G., Teasell, R., Mamdani, M.,
Hall, J., McIlroy, W., Cheung,
D.,Thorpe, K., Cohen, L., & Bayley,
M. (2010). Effectiveness of virtual reality using wii gaming technology in
stroke rehabilitation: A pilot randomized clinical trial and proof of
principle. American Heart Association
Journals, (41), 1477-1484. doi:10.1161/ STROKEAHA. 110584979
Stroke Foundation of New Zealand
(2013). Facts about stroke in new
zealand.
Retrieved from http://www.stroke.org.nz/node/16
Thanks for the advice, good ideas for getting the upper limb moving.
ReplyDeletei was diagnosed of parkinson disease 5 years ago,i started azilect,then mirapex as the disease progressed in february last year,and i started on parkinson disease Herbal medicine from ultimate herbal home,few months into the treatment i made a significant recovery,almost all my symptoms are gone,great improvement with my movement and balance,it been a year and life has been so good for me,contact them at ultimatehealthhome@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with COPD four years ago and struggled with worsening symptoms despite inhalers and medications. Last year, I tried an herbal treatment from NaturePath Herbal Clinic, and within months, my breathing improved, coughing subsided, and my energy returned. It’s been life-changing. If you or a loved one has COPD, I highly recommend their natural approach.
ReplyDeletewww.naturepathherbalclinic.com