Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #9

LEI 4724

Activity Title: Wii-hab

Source: Nicholson, D. (2010). Wii Rehabilitation Therapy News. Retrieved
April 04, 2016, from http://www.spinalcordinjuryzone.com/news/10308/wiirehabilitation-therapy
Equipment: Wii console, 4 Wii remotes, virtual Wii game involving tennis
and cooking, a television
Activity Description: The Nintendo Wii is a game console that has recently
started to come on the rise in the therapeutic world. Unlike most other
console, with the Wii players dont just press a button to make the figures on
the screen move. In order to play with the Wii, participants must move the
way they want their icon to move. Movements range from full body
movement to simple swings and swipes. According to Collins (2011) in, a
recent study the first of its kind found that patients could make a faster
recovery playing Wii games than with conventional therapy. In this activity,
the facilitator will split their group (which can range from 4-8 participants)
into two if they have more than one Wii available; if this is not possible, than
the group will take turns playing. One of the groups will play a virtual tennis
Wii game, while the other plays a virtual cooking Wii game. The alternative,
is to have four participants play at one time, while the rest watch and cheer
them on, and then they can switch after time is up. In the tennis game, the
leader should encourage participants to duplicate arm strokes as if they
were actually playing tennis. In the cooking game, the leader should
encourage participants to make strokes as if they were cutting potatoes and
peeling onions (Nicholson, 2010). In this particular source, the sessions
were done at eight sixty minute sessions over a span of two weeks
(Nicholson, 2010).
Leadership Considerations: A therapeutic recreation (TR) specialist is
adequate for leading this activity, however if participants are being split,
then two CTRS should be present. Leaders should understand the cost of the
equipment being used and relay it to the participants, as well as using
exactly as instructed by its producers. In an Occupational Therapy Now
Journal, Halton (2008) states that the Wii is currently listed at approximately
$220, the Wii Fit Balance Board is listed at $100, and additional Wii remotes
are $45. Another suggestion to take into consideration is every participants
individual goals. There are different games that help target various weak
spots. For example, in a table in the Occupational Therapy Now Journal, they
list that games that require sustained arm elevation/use are useful for
improving strength, where as games with big, natural movements to end
ranges (e.g., tennis) increases range of motion (Halton, 2008). The games
chosen should not be so challenging that participants lose interest. Make
sure there is arm length room within each participant, and that everyone
wears the wrist band on the controller to prevent accidently throwing it.

Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #9

LEI 4724

Adaptions: Participants with Hemiplegia: Hemiplegia is a type of

cerebral palsy disorder that consists of one vertical half of the body being
completely paralyzed (CHASA, n.d.). This is connected to damage in one
hemisphere of the brain which not only affects movement, but comes with a
lot of other symptoms too. Playing Wii can give hope to people with
hemiplegia, and help them see their progress. An adaptation to consider is to
have participants use both hands when handling the Wii remote, even if
there dominant hand is the one doing the most work (Steenbergen, Charles,
& Gordon, 2008). Since most participants have a hard time grasping things
and moving their less dominant hand, encouraging them to use both hands
when holding onto the Wii remote will exercise the muscles they normally
dont use. Also, Dattilo (2012), suggests using spongy surfaces to help
participants grasp things better. So surrounding the remote with something
that helps grip is a mobility limitation consideration.
Participants with Spinal Cord Injury: A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) occurs
when the spinal cord is damaged as a result of trauma, disease, or disorder.
When the spinal cord is damaged, communication is interrupted and can
result in temporary or permanent loss of movement and/or sensation (Porter,
2015). According to Porter (2015), temperature regulation affects people
with SCI because their bodies normally have lower core temperatures and
harder times regulating. Therefore, the room where this activity is being held
should be fairly warm in order to adapt to these participants, and help with
smoother movement of the muscles and blood flow. However, water and fans
should also be present in the case that the participants end up in high heat
because their bodies do not produce sweat to cool them down like it usually
would (Porter, 2015). Another adaptation is to make sure that you know of
any respiratory complications participants have and asking them to wear an
abdominal binder and use coughing techniques when necessary (Porter,
2015). Allowing participants to feel independent is very important, so always
use discernment, but also give them freedom as to how they want to move
and verbally encourage movement.
Adaptation References
Children's Hemiplegia & Stroke Association [CHASA]. (n.d.). What is
Hemiplegia? Retrieved April 04, 2016, from
http://chasa.org/medical/hemiplegia/
Collins, L. (2011). We're in for Wii-hab: Study finds games console therapy
speeds up patients' recovery process. Daily Mail. Retrieved April 4,
2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article1373296/Nintendo-Wii-games-console-therapy-speeds-patientsrecovery-process.html#ixzz44ukULJOM

Joely Ramos

Activities Portfolio #9

LEI 4724

Dattilo, J. (2012). Inclusive Leisure Service (3rd e.d.). State College, PA:
Venture Publishing.
Halton, J. (2008). Rehabilitation with the Nintendo Wii: Experiences at a
rehabilitation hospital. Occupational Therapy Now, 12(3), 11-14.
Retrieved April 4, 2016, from http://www.caot.ca/otnow/may10/nwii.pdf
Porter, H. R., Ph.D., CTRS (Ed.). (2015). Recreational therapy for specific
diagnoses and conditions. Enumclaw, WA: Idyll Arbor.
Steenbergen, B., Charles, J., & Gordon, A. (2008). Fingertip force control
during bimanual object lifting in hemiplegic cerebral palsy. PubMed,
186(2), 191-201. Retrieved April 4, 2016,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18224309?
ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP
anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum