Recycling the Nintendo Wii to Help Stroke Victims

NeuroScience Research Australia (NeuRA) is seeking donations of second-hand Wii consoles to help stroke victims regain the use of their arms and legs. The Wii-Based Movement Therapy program has been pioneered by Dr Penelope McNulty, a neurophysiologist at NeuRA. The Wii-Based Movement Therapy involves a 10 day training program using the Wii that results in significant improvements in the way stroke victims are able to use their arms and legs.The Wii-Based Movement Therapy involves a 10 day training program using the Wii that results in significant improvements in the way stroke victims are able to use their arms and legs.

The Wii-Based Movement Therapy program has dramatically helped the neuroscientists at NeuRa face the challenge of patient compliance.

“The biggest problems for rehabilitation are access to services, resources and patient compliance… So although the first two are about funding, no amount of funding and money can fix patient compliance” said Dr McNulty.

“We know traditional therapies work and they work very well, but if patients aren’t going to do the exercises that we know will help them, they’re simply not going to get better” she said.

The Wii is inexpensive, easy to use but most importantly it is fun and with the console being replaced by the new Wii U, Dr McNulty is hoping there will be more second-hand consoles to donate as people upgrade.

“I am hoping people will donate their old consoles and accessories, so stroke survivors that want to do this therapy but can’t afford a Wii, can being the long road to recover” she said.

The therapy has also been tried in a patient with a spinal cord industry and has the potential to help people with other conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease and Cerebral Palsy.

“Almost any kind of movement disorder we think there’s real potential for improvement of movement ability” said Dr McNulty.

Information on how to donate to the program can be found on NeuRA’s website.