Nintendo Wii helps senior citizens with physical therapy

At Corvallis Manor, 82-year-old Velma Brucker has got game. "I like doing baseball because that's what I used to play in school," Brucker said.

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Story Published: Jan 13, 2009 at 8:25 PM PST

By Elissa Harrington

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Physical therapy can be a painful and daunting task for many older adults.

But now a technology marketed as entertainment is helping senior citizens golf, bowl -- and even box.

Call it Wii-hab, where rehabilitation meets the Nintendo Wii.

"It's something fun," said Kevin McNamara, administrator of Corvallis Manor, a nursing home and rehabilitation center. "It's something different than a normal workout."

At Corvallis Manor, 82-year-old Velma Brucker has got game.

"I like doing baseball because that's what I used to play in school," Brucker said.

Why Wii?

Wii sports mimic the same motions used in real-life sports.

"It feels a lot more like doing it out on the field," Brucker said.

But the biggest benefit is balance.

"Just the movement, standing in place, rotating side to side, moving the trunk," explained physical therapist Julie Howell.

Brucker hopes the exercise will get her out of her walker and back on her own two feet.

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