Nintendo has been sneaking exercise into their consoles for years. With the advent of the Wii and its games like Wii Sports and, of course, the Wii Fit, video games have slowly been growing into something much more active. Nintendo has even created a pedometer for a new version of Pokémon DS. However, scientists are taking the idea of active video games to a new level, using Wii Sports as a unique treatment for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Much to this writer’s delight, the therapy is gaining notoriety under the name of Wii-hab.
Presented at the fifth annual Games for Health Conference, researchers from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) showed how just four weeks of play exacted marked improvements in patients suffering from Parkinson’s at varying degrees of severity. Using games that require finesse in bilateral movement, eye-hand coordination, and figure-ground relationship is an ideal way to help a person afflicted with a disease that impairs motor skills. Playing rounds of Wii tennis, bowling, and boxing three times a week for a month was all the longer it took to see changes.
Dr. Ben Hertz, a director of Occupational Therapy at MCG, explained that “participants showed significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels. Perhaps most impressively, most participants' depression levels decreased to zero.” [MCG] Depression is a major impact factor in Parkinson’s, with at least half of the patients reporting the mental illness.
No neurological studies have been done to solidify the reasons behind the improvement. However, Hertz believes that the combination of exercise and video games helps boost dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter that is severely deficient in Parkinson’s disease. That is the motivation behind using the Wii over another video game system; Wii requires whole-body movement instead of the simple isolated finger movements on a traditional controller.
Expect more results from the new Wii-hab movement. Hertz’s next plan is to investigate the effects of Wii Fit on Parkinson’s with the help of a $45,000 grant from the National Parkinson’s Foundation. "Game systems are the future of rehab," Dr. Herz said. "About 60 percent of the study participants decided to buy a Wii for themselves. That speaks volumes for how this made them feel."
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Video games may have potential health benefits
A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative is exploring how digital games can improve health for people of all ages.
Health Games Research, a national program supported by the foundation, awarded about $1.85 million in grants Nov. 5 to study games that engage players in physical activities or motivate them to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Among the grant recipients is the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Researchers there will test the effects of games on the brain activity and facial perception skills of 8- to 12-year-olds who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The games will challenge them to notice subtle differences in faces and expressions, a skill lacking in many children with autism.
Researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., will study three modes of exercise involving: "Winds of Orbis," a video game that uses upper- and lower-body movement to control characters; "Dance Dance Revolution," which involves dancing on a pad that detects a player's steps; and traditional school physical education activities.
Participants will be inner-city elementary school students randomly assigned to the activities. Researchers will measure the students' enjoyment level, attitudes toward physical activity, and amount of exercise and calories burned.
Meanwhile, Teachers College at Columbia University in New York will evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking reduction game application for mobile phones. A group at Long Island University's Brooklyn, N.Y., campus will assess the benefits of "Dance Dance Revolution" in helping Parkinson's disease patients reduce their risk of falling.
"We are seeing a lot of evidence that games are a great environment for learning and for behavior change," said Debra Lieberman, PhD, director of Health Games Research (www.healthgamesresearch.org).
Lieberman also is a communication researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Institute for Social, Behavioral and Economic Research.
"If you can design a game well that aligns the health goals with the game goals, you can really get people motivated to learn about health and try out new skills," she said.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Health Games Research, a national program supported by the foundation, awarded about $1.85 million in grants Nov. 5 to study games that engage players in physical activities or motivate them to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Among the grant recipients is the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Researchers there will test the effects of games on the brain activity and facial perception skills of 8- to 12-year-olds who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The games will challenge them to notice subtle differences in faces and expressions, a skill lacking in many children with autism.
Researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., will study three modes of exercise involving: "Winds of Orbis," a video game that uses upper- and lower-body movement to control characters; "Dance Dance Revolution," which involves dancing on a pad that detects a player's steps; and traditional school physical education activities.
Participants will be inner-city elementary school students randomly assigned to the activities. Researchers will measure the students' enjoyment level, attitudes toward physical activity, and amount of exercise and calories burned.
Meanwhile, Teachers College at Columbia University in New York will evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking reduction game application for mobile phones. A group at Long Island University's Brooklyn, N.Y., campus will assess the benefits of "Dance Dance Revolution" in helping Parkinson's disease patients reduce their risk of falling.
"We are seeing a lot of evidence that games are a great environment for learning and for behavior change," said Debra Lieberman, PhD, director of Health Games Research (www.healthgamesresearch.org).
Lieberman also is a communication researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Institute for Social, Behavioral and Economic Research.
"If you can design a game well that aligns the health goals with the game goals, you can really get people motivated to learn about health and try out new skills," she said.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Benefits of Exercise for People Who Suffer From Parkinson’s Disease
Many sufferers of Parkinson’s disease quickly find that various aspects of their life are no longer controllable in the way that they used to be however by exercising regularly Parkinson sufferers can continue to control their gross movements i.e. walking, holding objects etc. for longer which adds a mental and emotional boost to their wellbeing. Research has shown that exercise may also improve the synthesis of dopamine in the brain and increase the levels of neurotrophic factors which are beneficial compounds.
Exercise for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease incorporates muscle strengthening, flexibility and toning activities so that muscles and joints stay flexible and strong. It is normal for a physiotherapist to implement an exercise schedule for the patient that includes a range of activities to work all muscles of the body over a two or three day period. So for example, day one of the cycle may include walking and strengthening exercises for the arms and hands whereas day two might be a yoga class where flexibility of the joints is the main focus.
It is essential to monitor the patient’s progress, not only so that any improvements and decreases in function are recorded but also as a stimulus for the patient; when people see improvement and can visualise the effort that they put in they are much more positive about continuing the regime.
In general exercise should test the entire body and not just the limbs so that posture and movement is maintained for as long as possible. Good posture is essential in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease because stooping can hamper breathing and swallowing. Exercises for posture include callisthenics, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and swimming however not every sufferer will enjoy these types of activities. Simply sitting upright while reading a book or watching TV and walking with a straight back will also help though, thus walking the dog or playing with the children or grandchildren are great ways to work the body muscles and to enjoy daily exercising.
Regular exercise for the Parkinson’s sufferer will reduce the incidence of muscle cramps, rigidity of the joints and the aches and pains associated with staying still for long periods of time. Also, because exercise helps the sufferer to maintain control over many of their gross movements (although maybe not the tremors) it gives them a heightened sense of achievement and so stress and anxiety levels remain low. Keeping a positive mental attitude is incredibly important in conditions like Parkinson’s disease where sufferer can very easily become frustrated and discouraged with their predicament.
As with all exercise routines, the patient should start with a good warm up followed by the exercise activity of their choice or which has been scheduled for that day, and then they should finish with a positive cool down so that the chances of developing muscle cramps and injuries are greatly reduced. An exercise session should ideally last around 15-20 minutes and should not by any means exhaust the patient. Overexertion can be equally as damaging to a Parkinson’s sufferer as no exercise at all.
In order to make daily exercise more appealing and less of a chore it may be worth trying to find a friend or relative that is willing to exercise with the patient. Also, a bit of variety in the type of exercise will not only mean that the exercise stays interesting but it will also ensure that all muscles and joints of the body are used to a satisfactory level.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Exercise for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease incorporates muscle strengthening, flexibility and toning activities so that muscles and joints stay flexible and strong. It is normal for a physiotherapist to implement an exercise schedule for the patient that includes a range of activities to work all muscles of the body over a two or three day period. So for example, day one of the cycle may include walking and strengthening exercises for the arms and hands whereas day two might be a yoga class where flexibility of the joints is the main focus.
It is essential to monitor the patient’s progress, not only so that any improvements and decreases in function are recorded but also as a stimulus for the patient; when people see improvement and can visualise the effort that they put in they are much more positive about continuing the regime.
In general exercise should test the entire body and not just the limbs so that posture and movement is maintained for as long as possible. Good posture is essential in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease because stooping can hamper breathing and swallowing. Exercises for posture include callisthenics, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and swimming however not every sufferer will enjoy these types of activities. Simply sitting upright while reading a book or watching TV and walking with a straight back will also help though, thus walking the dog or playing with the children or grandchildren are great ways to work the body muscles and to enjoy daily exercising.
Regular exercise for the Parkinson’s sufferer will reduce the incidence of muscle cramps, rigidity of the joints and the aches and pains associated with staying still for long periods of time. Also, because exercise helps the sufferer to maintain control over many of their gross movements (although maybe not the tremors) it gives them a heightened sense of achievement and so stress and anxiety levels remain low. Keeping a positive mental attitude is incredibly important in conditions like Parkinson’s disease where sufferer can very easily become frustrated and discouraged with their predicament.
As with all exercise routines, the patient should start with a good warm up followed by the exercise activity of their choice or which has been scheduled for that day, and then they should finish with a positive cool down so that the chances of developing muscle cramps and injuries are greatly reduced. An exercise session should ideally last around 15-20 minutes and should not by any means exhaust the patient. Overexertion can be equally as damaging to a Parkinson’s sufferer as no exercise at all.
In order to make daily exercise more appealing and less of a chore it may be worth trying to find a friend or relative that is willing to exercise with the patient. Also, a bit of variety in the type of exercise will not only mean that the exercise stays interesting but it will also ensure that all muscles and joints of the body are used to a satisfactory level.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
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