VIRTUAL HEALING

Patients at local rehab center bowl, play baseball with video game system

By Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter

vanessa.fultz@gaflnews.com



For two months now, patients at Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center have been playing games to get well.

Suwannee Health and Rehab has implemented a Nintendo Wii game system to enhance its therapy program. The gaming system benefits patients who are diagnosed with various aliments, including cardio-pulmonary difficulties, joint problems, osteoarthritis and stroke.

Wii is an interactive system in which players act out the movements of the games they are playing. In Wii baseball, for example, players swing the game controller as if it were a bat.

Lana Rhoden, rehab director at Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Suwannee Health Care Center), said the Wii system enhances patients' recovery and lets them have fun in the process.

"It gives us alternatives as far as the traditional therapy goes, because with the Wii you can combine sensory, motor, and balance when you're using it," Rhoden said.

The Wii system benefits the center's residents, as well as outpatients and patients planning to return home after therapy.

With Wii, patients can bowl, box and play baseball, tennis and golf. The system is used during physical and occupational therapy to work on upper and lower body strength, balance, coordination and endurance. Speech therapy patients benefit from the attention, problem-solving and sequencing components of the games.

"A lot of our men like to do the baseball and golf and the ladies seem to prefer the bowling and the tennis," Rhoden said.

Patricia Meier, a resident at the facility, played Wii bowling during a six month program to promote balance and hand-eye coordination. She returns to the game from time to time to maintain her strength and to have fun.

"I used to do bowling years ago. I used to bowl all the time," she said. "I love it."

"I have Alzheimer's and had six strokes," Meier said. "I couldn't balance myself at all. I came in here and they helped me and now I'm able to walk without the walker."

Another patient, Miles Robinson, has been playing Wii baseball for the last three weeks. The game helps him build strength, hand-eye coordination and balance, to reduce the risk of falling.

"It's pretty good," Robinson said. "It will keep you limber."

"We're looking for new and innovative ways to help people get home faster," said Greg Roberts, administrator of the facility.

With Wii, he seems to have found one.

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