{"id":493,"date":"2014-09-03T11:12:54","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T15:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/centralnj\/?p=493"},"modified":"2014-09-03T11:12:54","modified_gmt":"2014-09-03T15:12:54","slug":"virtual-reality-games-help-stroke-patients-regain-lost-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/newjersey\/centralnj\/blog\/virtual-reality-games-help-stroke-patients-regain-lost-mobility\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Reality Games Help Stroke Patients Regain Lost Mobility"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Active video games have been a surprise hit with older adults!
\nStudies show that motion sensing games such as the Wii system
\ncan provide a good moderate-intensity workout. Now, a new study
\nsuggests that these games may have therapeutic benefit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Playing tennis or peeling onions on Wii virtual reality videogames may help stroke patients with mild to moderate impairment regain their ability to use their arms and hands.<\/p>\n

A study by Dr. Gustavo Saposnik, a neurologist at St. Michael\u2019s Hospital in Toronto, is the first to show that virtual reality is a feasible, safe and potentially effective treatment of stroke. \u201cThis study takes us one step closer to understanding the potential benefits of using technology like the Wii in neurorehabilitation,\u201d says Dr. Saposnik.<\/p>\n

The research team used Wii Sports Tennis and Cooking Mama to see if these games could help stroke patients improve their fine motor skills. The cooking game uses movements that replicate peeling an onion, cutting a potato, and shredding cheese.<\/p>\n

The idea came to Dr. Saposnik while he was playing a friendly game of Wii tennis with his five-year-old daughter. At one point, his daughter said, \u201cThis is unfair\u2014you have more skills than me!\u201d So, being a left-handed player, Dr. Saposnik switched his virtual tennis racket to his right hand. \u201cIt was more challenging and I didn\u2019t win, but after a few games, I was improving. I realized that this could be something interesting in stroke rehab where people have lost those fine motor skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Researchers recruited patients who had recently suffered a stroke. Eligible subjects were randomized to either use the Wii, or to do traditional recreational therapy, which involves activities such as playing cards or bingo. Both groups also received the same amount of physiotherapy.<\/p>\n

At the end of the trial, participants were asked to complete tasks to measure their abilities. The Wii group performed tasks faster, showing more improvement in their fine motor skills. They also had better grip strength.<\/p>\n

The basic principles of rehabilitation involve repetition. Virtual reality games provide repetitive, high-intensity tasks that work to re-activate neurons involved in the brain. \u201cBy allowing the users to interact with a simulated environment, they receive instant feedback on their performance while making practice more interesting in a safe environment,\u201d said Dr. Saposnik.<\/p>\n

With these promising pilot results, the research team is already working on a larger study. \u201cFor recovering stroke patients, this is something that, if proven effective, could be easily implemented in their rehab program while improving not only their motor skills, but also their quality of life,\u201d said Dr. Saposnik.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0Assisting Hands<\/span>\u00ae\u00a0in association with IlluminAge,\u00a0\u00a9 IlluminAge 2014.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Active video games have been a surprise hit with older adults! Studies show that motion sensing games such as the Wii system can provide a good moderate-intensity workout. Now, a new study suggests that these games may have therapeutic benefit. Playing tennis or peeling onions on Wii virtual reality videogames may help stroke patients with mild to moderate impairment regain…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVirtual Reality Games Help Stroke Patients Regain Lost Mobility - Central New Jersey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/newjersey\/centralnj\/blog\/virtual-reality-games-help-stroke-patients-regain-lost-mobility\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Virtual Reality Games Help Stroke Patients Regain Lost Mobility - Central New Jersey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Active video games have been a surprise hit with older adults! 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