Valley youth using Wii for rehabilitation
ELSA - In consecutive motions, seven-year-old Adolfo Ibarra throws a right swing, then a left, then back to the right before throwing one more left hand.
In a matter of seconds, Ibarra knocks the animated boxer displayed on the television before him down for the 10-count. With the speakers blaring, it was as if Ibarra was at an arena in front of thousands of fans.
Instead, Ibarra is one of dozens of local children using the Nintendo Wii video game system as a form of physical rehabilitation at Therapy Central Children's Rehab Services in Elsa.
Physical Therapy Assistant/Clinical Director Kay Yotter said the center implemented the Wii program in May after she read a related story from The Associated Press.
The Nintendo Wii game became a fast hit as soon as it arrived in the office.
"They (kids) walk into my therapy gym and they will automatically walk over to the television," Yotter said. "I've had some kids that say, ‘Game, game.'"
Yotter said the Wii brings a new level of energy to patients who prior had to put up with repetitive stretching exercises in order to heal. The Wii turns traditional video game play on its head by encouraging physical activity by encouraging gamers to use motion-sensitive controllers to produce in-game movements.
Yotter said the Wii is a solid alternative to traditional physical therapy, which can often bore children with its repetition.
"It's helped a lot in behaviors," she said. "I've seen kids now who have more interest in the therapy because they know they get to come and play games. They look to forward to coming now."
Among the most popular games for physical activity are sports such as boxing, bowling, golf, tennis, swimming, yoga and aerobics. Yotter said the games focus on the same principles of physical therapy, including balance and coordination.
To further tie video games into rehabilitation, the clinic keeps track of records from each sport with a wall of certificates awarded to children who master their digital opponents. "We work with kids here and we feel like whatever we do, it has to be fun," Yotter said. "So it works, it's a wonderful situation."
Yamileth Aguirre has been a patient at the rehab center for the last couple of months. The 13-year-old said she was there before the Wii arrived and remembers the stress of rehabbing the old way. Aguirre admitted she didn't like it, but said she changed her tune when the Wii system was put in place.
"I like playing it because it's a lot of fun, lots of fun," Aguirre said.
Aguirre, of Monte Alto, is in rehab trying to strengthen her arms, so she's spent all her Wii time playing the boxing and bowling games. Aguirre goes to the center twice a week and said she plays the game for as long as 30 minutes.
Yotter said Aguirre is one of many children who have used the Wii to make strides in their therapy sessions.
"I definitely have seen some big improvements in our kids with things like eye coordination. Staying on task is a big issue with some of our kids," Yotter said. "There are some kids I've haven't able to keep them on task for more than five minutes, but one young girl I was able to keep her on the Wii for five minutes."
Yotter said the new system has all but changed the atmosphere at the center. Children are no longer intimidated to come into the rehab center, knowing their reward for attendance is time with the game, she said.
The Wii game system adds to an already "kiddie friendly" world in the clinic that features Winnie The Pooh and Toy Story as part of decorations, Yotter said.
"The clinical world has always been the white walls and the gray walls," she said. "It's real important for us that it not be some stark clinical situation."
