October 2008 Vol. 27. No. 10

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Wii-hab makes healing fun
Remembering Spirit
Staying healthy: Our skin ‹ more than just a covering
Increased Medical Bankruptcies
Fortuna: Looking for a few new friends
Around the Center: Blood pressure and aging

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Wii-hab makes healing fun
by Courtney Hunt-Munther

Patients Ted Harrison and Sandy Giuntoli compete in the Rehab Olympics as part of St. Josephıs Rehab Week celebrations. Cheering them on are occupational therapist Jan Wolski and physical therapist Lindsay Clark. Photo by Barbara Clark

Mary Ellen Reese wasnıt your average hospital patient. The Crescent City resident, who landed herself at St. Joseph Hospital's acute rehabilitation unit after breaking her hip, bowled for five hours just days after having surgery.

But playing a round of golf and doubles tennis, bowling, driving and even boxing are fast becoming the norm for many of the hospitalıs rehab patients.

Reese and other rehab patients are taking advantage of St. Joseph Hospitalıs new Nintendo Wii, a game system that encourages players to be active as they play. Thanks to a grant provided by the St. Joseph Hospital Volunteers, the rehab unit now offers ³Wii-hab² as a therapeutic tool to supplement other activities.

"Rehab is challenging. It can be monotonous," said Physical Therapy Director Jim Peaker. "Wii turns the exercises into fun."

Patients who have had serious illnesses or traumatic injuries require extensive physical rehabilitation before they can return to full health. A typical rehab routine would consist of exercises and functional activities such as re-learning to walk, get dressed and take care of themselves. But with the Wii, patients can now play each other, staff, spouses or anyone willing to take a few minutes to engage in a friendly game.

Wii helps patients mentally and physically. Playing a game is a healthy social activity that helps raise patientsı morale and encourages them to work harder to win. Perhaps the most significant benefit to using Wii is that it familiarizes patients with functional, automatic movements they will do when they leave the hospital and return home ‹ and itıs fun.

Specifically, Wii helps patients improve range of motion, coordination, stability and strength, balance, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive abilities and hand-eye coordination. Patients also tend to push themselves harder for longer because they are engaged in the game.

Peaker said that Wii-hab is not used exclusively for rehab therapy ‹ it is a supplement to other rehab exercises and activities. And though the hospital already has about 30 games, Peaker would like to get the new ³WiiFit² system, which would allow participants to engage in fitness-oriented activities like yoga, strength training and aerobics.

For Reese, playing Wii bowling not only helped her heal faster, she was able to play a sport she had given up because the weight of the ball became too much after an arm injury. Previously, she had played in two womenıs bowling leagues and one mixed league with her husband before the injury forced her to quit.

On her final day in the rehab unit, Reese spent more than five hours playing Wii bowling and said she plans to buy one for home.

"I want to get one,² she said. ³I have a birthday coming up."

Peaker, who often plays against patients, is excited to introduce more rehab patients to the game system.

"I can see no rehab patient who wouldnıt benefit from incorporating the game system into their therapy," Peaker said.

For more information about St. Joseph Hospitalıs inpatient rehabilitation center, visit www.stjosepheureka.org or call 445-8121, ext. 4457.

Courtney Hunt-Munther is communications specialist for St. Joseph Hospital.