Stroke victim finds the Wii helps with rehab

by David Hinkle { Aug 8th 2007 at 2:15PM }

You know, we've reported on the Wii being used as a rehabilitation tool plenty of times over, but these stories never cease to amaze us. Take a trip with us to the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Minneapolis' Abbott Northwestern Hospital, where stroke victim, and 77-year-old semi-pro tennis player, Jerry Pope is finding the Wii to be quite the comfort during his recovery period. He explains that it is helping him in his journey to get back on the real court.

"I'm not a video game player," he explains, further adding that the Wii "is the only one I've ever played." Still, it's managed to hold his interest, as he did not have a taste for the conventional physical therapy exercises that follow a stroke. His wife, Gloria, explains that he was in bad shape following the stroke, but is now looking good and well on his way to recovery.

Tags: therapy, wiisports

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 8th 2007 2:50PM

Score! I mean good for them. I might use it to help my mom...

Modeps @ Aug 8th 2007 3:20PM

I sent in a story over a month ago about my mother-in-law, her stroke, and how she enjoyed playing the Wii even though she has significant problems with motor skills... but I guess because I wasn't an official medical center or doctor, you wouldn't post it. I see how it is. :(

Michael Lenkiewicz @ Aug 8th 2007 11:40PM

I am actually a 24 year old stroke victim. I am about 15 months out now. I had originally wanted to use my Wii for my recovery, but I have so many physical issues that I can't even hold my controller in my left hand(my affected side). Mad props to the old people that can use it! I hate when cool games come out that I would love to play, but might not be able to ever play.

Kenny @ Aug 9th 2007 7:44AM

I'm a 30 year old survivor of 3 strokes. I don't like this article because it implies there's a fun way to recover. There isn't. I gained almost full mobility back after a year of very hard work at traditional rehab. I have some difficulty playing Wii games that require both hands, but I get by. The Wii doesn't offer any rehabilitative qualities, though.

E Greenberg @ Oct 18th 2007 8:14AM

I'm a 35 year old stroke survivor....actually I had a massive brain
hemorrhage (Hemmorrhagic Stroke). From what I'm told...people don't
survive what I survived. That aside, I have 2 young children (7 and
4), and together we play the Wii and we love it. I've been saying
since I got the Wii (5 months after my stroke) that this is the best
therapy I've had to date. Not only has Wii Sports helped my
coordination, it helps me play "sports" with my kids and keep a
playful spirit. It certainly helped me gain confidence to try these
sports outside as well (which I can do pretty well now). Wii "Brain
Academy" has also helped stimulate my brain in a fun way, and is also
a good therapy tool. GET ONE AND TRY IT! IT WORKS!