Nintendo® Wii&#8482 and a Physical Activity Routine: Effective Therapeutic Interventions in the Older Adult Population?

Abstract

Occupational therapists work with individuals across the lifespan to promote health and wellness. "Occupational therapy promotes health and wellbeing through active involvement in meaningful occupations. By helping clients eliminate barriers, enhance their self-management skills, improve their performance of daily activities and adopt healthy habits and routines, occupational therapy unlocks the door to participation across the lifespan" (AOTA, 2010). In today's world, health and wellness-related services are in demand for those aged 65 and older. As life expectancy rates continue to rise, there is an increase in concern for the field of occupational therapy to find a successful and efficient way to meet the needs of the growing number of older adults (National Center for Health Statistics, 2006). The idea that physical activity can be a beneficial occupation in the elderly has been examined and proved effective as a means of enhancing the quality of life in this population. "Although functional impairments due to the aging process seem to be inevitable, functional limitations due to an inactive lifestyle might be reversed. Indeed, it has been suggested that physically active lifestyles may contribute to improving or maintaining health and wellness" (Fletcher, Gulanick, & Braun, 2005). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two different physical activity programs on individuals aged 65 and older. The variables that were examined were functional skills (activities of daily living), balance skills, and overall upper extremity function. This study looked at two forms of physical activity to determine their individual effects on functional skills, balance, and overall upper extremity function in this population. The two physical activity interventions were the Nintendo™ Wii gaming system and a videotaped exercise routine.

Exergame Experience of Young and Old Individuals Under Different Difficulty Adjustment Methods

“…Nintendo Wii Fit's sales reached a stunning 21 million after the second year of its release in 2007 [28]. Researchers from a broad spectrum used both Wii Fit's inertial measurement unit based controllers and its balance board for therapeutic interventions such as stroke or balance rehabilitation, functional improvements in individuals with brain injuries, and children with pediatric disabilities [26,[29][30][31][32]. Following this trend, Microsoft Kinect allowed players to use their body as a remote controller, opening the door to a new world for researchers.…”