Contribution by a Contractor/Stringer-Writer: Christine Cabaro

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Honorable Mention: Christine Cabaro, MCB Hawaii

Nintendo Wii therapy aids wounded

Injured service members getting into the swing of rehabilitation therapy should consider finding a Wii console.

The Nintendo gaming system is helping Wounded Warrior Company’s 3rd Marine Regiment Marines recuperate from their combat injuries. Recovering Warriors are reaping therapeutic benefits during single and multiple player Wii games.

“It’s a good supplement to the physical therapy people have when they’re coming off an injury,” said Cpl. Roger Irving, infantryman, originally with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. “It helps you a bit, and you get motivated because of it.”

Hit by an improvised explosive device during a foot patrol, the corporal said he played Wii tennis a few times a week. Irving, injured during his Iraq deployment in January 2007, said he liked playing Wii sports games as his leg healed.

“Most of my physical therapy was general exercising and a lot of stretching,” he said. “You can do a lot of standing while you play Wii games, and it was just a fun to thing to do.”

A Honolulu apartment owners association donated the company’s Wii and its games in December 2007, according to 1st Lt. Nick Perkins, officer-in-charge, Wounded Warrior Company. Perkins said Wii games are occupational therapy for the wounded, and he encourages Marines to find off-time activities aiding their physical training.

“The Marines talk to their medical care provider,” he said. “Then they’ll come up with their own [physical training] program that works around injuries or disabilities they may have. We use that program as their primary physical rehabilitation.”

The lieutenant said swinging the console’s controller is only a supplement to physical therapy. Perkins said Wii gaming is a good alternative to watching television or other stationary activity during recovery. Wounded players also gain other benefits to gaming, he said.

“The physical aspect of it is minimal,” Perkins said. “It’s more about reconnecting with your fellow Marines. You can play baseball or bowling together, and it’s a way to relieve the stress of the day.”

Irving said he enjoyed playing against his roommate, and it was nice to have time to socially connect with others. Perkins said Wii playing, used as a supplemental therapy, aids in one area his company seeks to immediately treat: post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Marines can challenge each other in friendly match,” he said. “It allows them a small amount of normalcy which, unfortunately, their combat experiences have denied them.”

Normally, Cpl. Kyle Grous, radio operator, Wounded Warrior Co., 3rd Marines, would play golf with his father when they were together. In April 2007, Grous had his golfing arm in a splint after breaking an elbow during his deployment.

“I had a radial head injury with my left arm,” he said. “Wii is good occupational therapy, even though I’m not quite able to do a full arm extension.”

Healing from the injury, Grous had three surgeries to fix his left arm. After the last surgery, he said he liked to play Wii games two to three times a day. The radio operator scheduled playtime in between physical therapy sessions that focused on increasing his arm strength.

“The motions you have to do to play the games help workout your arms,” he said. “Even if it’s just a little bit of motion, it’s better than sitting around.”

During hospital visits, Grous said therapists tried to get him to do similar moves that would help him heal. He said playing Wii golf was fun, especially since he didn’t have the arm strength at that moment to swing a real golf cub. Both Grous and Iriving said they hoped Wii game developers continued producing programs that relax muscles and minds. 

“A lot of games Nintendo already makes require player movement,” Irving said. “They have a whole variety available, and it’s fun physical therapy to see how many points you can score.”

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(Note: If you would like to see this story as it ran go to: http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/news/Feb22A8.pdf)