Parkinson’s sufferers embracing Wii
Posted by Sally on February 11, 2009 under Blog | 
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This one caught my eye this morning.
thewest.com.au reports:
A group of seven older people with and without the degenerative condition took part in a NSW pilot project, and they were put through an almost daily regime of playing the Nintendo Wii.
The home entertainment device is controlled through arm movements, while a Wii Fit "board" was also added requiring the seated users to interact with on-screen objects using their feet.
Southern Cross University Associate Professor Rick van der Zwan said the initial findings were positive, as it showed the older people were prepared to embrace an unfamiliar technology.
"Lots of older people when you talk to them about computer games they think about shooting up spaceships ... they're not so interested," Dr van der Zwan says.
"They are quite prepared to try it as a therapy or potential form of treatment, but when they do they are quite surprised.
"They find it fun ... not a chore like taking your blood pressure, it becomes an engaging part of their routine and that's exactly what we want."
Read rest of this article.
