The Healing Power of Video Games

Some people think of video games as an escape to reality.  But for injured soldiers at Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter in Washington, D.C., these video games are providing a return to the real world in the form of physical theraphy.

Wii games like tennis or boxing can help increase range of motion, and patients enjoy them much more than doing ten repetitions of an exercise.  Xbox360 games are also suited for exercising the finger range of motions, and Dance Dance Revolution which helps with balance and sequencing.  Video games have helped to give a sense of normalcy back to the injured soldiers. 

To gauge patients’ improvement, the games are connected to medical equipment, such as clinical biometric machine manufactured by Biometrics Ltd.  The machine measures the wrist strength for skiing games and hand motion (including twisting and turning) for basketball games.  The games can also help patients with basic motor skills and assists in relearning everyday basic tasks, such as writing, throwing a ball and even driving a car. 

As of last year 2008, Walter Reed Army Medical Center has treated more than 6,000 patients using the games as a part of the physical therapy regimen, including more than 500 amputees.  Though the soldiers are all returning to civilian life much different from how they left it, regaining vital physical skills makes the transition much easier.  For individuals without legs and who may have arm injuries, when put in the front of a game controller, they are not thinking about exercise or anything else.  They were just playing and having fun.  So, if you think video games are just nonsense and a waste of time stuffs, you have to think again.