Wiihabilitation: Using the Nintendo Wii for "Wiihab" Therapy

Who ever thought that a gaming system could become a tool for doctors and therapists when treating people with disabilities? Nintendo's Wii video game system is quickly becoming all the rage in rehabilitation centers across the US. The Palm Beach Post recently ran an article by Lindsay Tanner of the Chicago AP, coining the term "Wiihabilitation" and shedding some light on the usefulness of the Nintendo Wii as a rehabilitation tool.

Jozefa Debogorski, M.D., of Palm Beach County, Florida, is a Board Certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and has been working with people with disabilities for over 25 years. She commented on the recent article and the role the Wii has begun to take in rehab centers across the US. "I am very excited that after 25 years something like this is available. I see so much sense in it, and I see it being used in multiple applications." Debogorski's first thought when asked about the best attribute of the Wii, "It's not boring!" She continued with, "If somebody enjoys something, we know that a good mood releases endorphins in the brain, thus heightening the effectiveness of the exercise. Patients actually look forward to it, rather than just treating it as yet another exercise that they have to do."