Article

Commercial off-the-shelf computer gaming devices have been making
inroads into the rehabilitation arena, with the objective of making therapeutic
exercise fun and contextual. One such device is the Nintendo Wii. Published
clinical studies evaluating its acceptance, potential benefits and side-effects
in the rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke weakness are few in number.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of using the
Nintendo Wii as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation of patients with
post-stroke upper limb weakness. METHODS: Twenty rehabilitation inpatients within
3 months after a stroke with upper limb weakness received 6 sessions of upper
limb exercises via a Nintendo Wii over 2 weeks in addition to conventional
rehabilitation. Outcome measures include a questionnaire, Fugl-Meyer Assessment
of Upper Limb Motor Function and visual analogue scale of upper limb pain.
RESULTS: A total of 16 subjects completed the study. All 16 found Nintendo Wii
gaming enjoyable and comparable to, if not better than, conventional therapy.
There were small but statistically significant improvements in the Fugl-Meyer
Assessment and Motricity Index scores. CONCLUSION: Nintendo Wii appears to be a
feasible adjunctive device to augment conventional therapy in a cohort of
subacute stroke patients with moderate impairments of upper limb strength and
function.

Langue : ANGLAIS