Published: July 27, 2010 7:00 PM
Physio-Yoga Therapy is a type of rehabilitative or preventative therapy that combines both evidence-based physiotherapy and yoga therapy resulting in a more holistic approach to your treatment experience. To understand what this therapy is and if it is right for you, you first need to understand each discipline.
Physiotherapy is a well respected health care profession that uses evidence-based treatment methods to help clients restore and maintain optimal movement and function as well as provide education on health maintenance and injury prevention. As licensed health care professionals, physiotherapists have extensive training and knowledge about how the body functions, and use specialized manual skills to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of injuries, disease symptoms, and disabilities.
Yoga therapy applies yoga principles and techniques to specific acute or chronic illnesses or states of disease or imbalance. Yoga is an ancient system of health that enables you to use your body, mind, and breath as one unit and, therefore, enhances and promotes an overall balanced lifestyle of health and well-being.
Yoga therapy is an emerging profession that has resulted from the popularity of yoga in the western world; primarily because of its effectiveness in delivering a holistic approach to healing. Medical research shows that it is among the most effective complementary therapies in treating health problems. It enhances health and promotes an optimal state of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health through the integration of traditional yoga methods and Western medicine. Some people are opposed to trying yoga because they believe it is a religion or that it will interfere with their own faith. Yoga is not a religion. There is no deity to worship, no worship services to attend, no rituals, no formal statement of religious belief and no institutional structure of overseers or leaders, nor any system of temples or churches. Yoga can be incorporated into your own belief system; and can actually deepen your own personal faith if you do have one.
Is physio-yoga therapy safe for everyone? Yes, as long as the therapist is properly trained. Not all poses are safe or appropriate for everyone. Yoga poses are modified to adapt to each individual’s need. A physio-yoga therapist will always individually assess and develop a specialized treatment plan to address your specific needs. A physiotherapist is trained to assess and treat a variety of conditions safely and, more importantly, is trained to know how to differential diagnose and knows when to refer to a medical doctor or another health care specialist.
A typical physio-yoga therapy session includes hands on, physiotherapy manual therapy techniques combined with individualized exercise prescription with a focus on yoga postures, breathing practices, meditations and lifestyle modifications. A thorough assessment is completed so that an individualized treatment plan can be developed to accurately address your specific needs.
The knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and the extensive training of a licensed health care professional ensures the assessments and treatments are safe and effective.
So what are the benefits of this type of treatment approach? They are numerous. Physically, yoga postures and breathing techniques can optimize the function of all systems of the body by improving muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, postural alignment, body awareness, vascular and lymph circulation, digestion, hormonal balance, respiration, and by lowering blood pressure, strengthening bones, improving immune function and reducing weight. Mentally, it can improve your alertness, concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your ability to relax, and sleep patterns. Some common conditions that can be addressed are back and neck pain, chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries (shoulders, hips, knees, etc), osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, Irritable Bowel Disease, migraines/headaches, generally deconditioned, pregnancy, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, scoliosis, urinary stress or urge incontinence.
It is worthy to note the role it plays in disease and injury prevention as well.
The key benefit is an overall state of health and well-being!
For more information on yoga therapy, please visit www.iayt.org or www.professionalyogatherapy.org
Shelly Prosko is a Registered Physiotherapist and Yoga Therapist at Sun City Physiotherapy Winfield. She can be contacted at the Winfield clinic (250.766.2544) or by email at winfield@suncityphysiotherapy.com.
30 July 2010
29 July 2010
Cerebral Palsy Study Dispels Inflated Costs And Biases
A new study on treating Cerebral Palsy with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is making waves in India and the U.S. The largest sample of children studied to assess neuro-developmental improvements focuses on a combination of standard rehabilitation therapies, such as Occupational, Physical, Speech Therapies and HBOT. HBOT raises the oxygen molecule content in the body through oxygen-carrying blood cells and all body fluids. A person enters a treatment chamber, and the air pressure is compressed with more molecules of air and oxygen. Lately, HBOT has garnered much attention in the media, with athletes using it to train and recover from injuries, diabetics literally saving limbs, patients able to kill resistant bacteria, and most recently, new applications in neurology brain injuries, traumas and disorders.
In fact, this new study out of India compares the use of various hyperbaric pressures with the use of (ambient) air alone or oxygen enrichment in the treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The study shows that low pressure ambient air hyperbaric therapy (1.3 atmospheres-ATA) is as or more effective than high pressure 100% oxygen (1.5 or 1.75 ATA) in the treatment of CP. The children were studied by Dr. Arun Mukherjee, director of the UDAAN Disabled Children's Center, a non-profit organization, recognized and aided by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
This landmark study, co-authored with Dr. Pierre Marois (McGill University in Montreal, Canada), further develops the 1999 ground-breaking McGill study (Lancet, February 2001) by expanding the number of subjects and by implementing an accurate placebo-control testing method. Subjects with a functional diagnosis of spastic diplegia cerebral palsy received one of four hyperbaric options, in addition to standard therapies: 1) the placebo therapy (20 subjects); 2) hyperbaric therapy at 1.3 ATA breathing ambient air under pressure (36 subjects); 3) hyperbaric therapy breathing 100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA (32 subjects); and 4 ) 1.75 ATA with 100% oxygen (58). All subjects were reevaluated at six months after conclusion of therapy to negate any traces of the placebo effect. The study showed significant improvements for all three groups receiving therapy (the placebo group showed little or no improvement). There were no significant improvement differences between the therapies, with a slight preference (cognitive improvement) shown towards 1.3 ATA with air only.
These results, combined with the McGill study, refute previous assumptions in the hyperbaric industry that 100% oxygen under higher pressure is a superior treatment, a false "more is better" treatment bias. In the areas of cognitive development, the milder therapy does not trigger the narrowing of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction) in the brain in the way that the other therapies do, thus allowing additional oxygen to pass through tissue unrestricted.
"It brings into focus that the much more affordable mild hyperbaric therapy is an accessible alternative to expensive high-pressure hyperbaric therapy and does not compromise a patient's standard of care," Dr. Mukherjee admits.
This study has far-reaching implications for other neurological conditions as well. Facing the sky-rocketing costs of treating traumatic brain injury for recovering veterans, stroke, and autism, this study brings hope to those families struggling to afford this greatly desired therapy.
Dr. Arun Mukherjee is Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine, Majeedia Hospital, and Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, and a member of the International Hyperbarics Association.
Source: International Hyperbarics Association
In fact, this new study out of India compares the use of various hyperbaric pressures with the use of (ambient) air alone or oxygen enrichment in the treatment of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The study shows that low pressure ambient air hyperbaric therapy (1.3 atmospheres-ATA) is as or more effective than high pressure 100% oxygen (1.5 or 1.75 ATA) in the treatment of CP. The children were studied by Dr. Arun Mukherjee, director of the UDAAN Disabled Children's Center, a non-profit organization, recognized and aided by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
This landmark study, co-authored with Dr. Pierre Marois (McGill University in Montreal, Canada), further develops the 1999 ground-breaking McGill study (Lancet, February 2001) by expanding the number of subjects and by implementing an accurate placebo-control testing method. Subjects with a functional diagnosis of spastic diplegia cerebral palsy received one of four hyperbaric options, in addition to standard therapies: 1) the placebo therapy (20 subjects); 2) hyperbaric therapy at 1.3 ATA breathing ambient air under pressure (36 subjects); 3) hyperbaric therapy breathing 100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA (32 subjects); and 4 ) 1.75 ATA with 100% oxygen (58). All subjects were reevaluated at six months after conclusion of therapy to negate any traces of the placebo effect. The study showed significant improvements for all three groups receiving therapy (the placebo group showed little or no improvement). There were no significant improvement differences between the therapies, with a slight preference (cognitive improvement) shown towards 1.3 ATA with air only.
These results, combined with the McGill study, refute previous assumptions in the hyperbaric industry that 100% oxygen under higher pressure is a superior treatment, a false "more is better" treatment bias. In the areas of cognitive development, the milder therapy does not trigger the narrowing of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction) in the brain in the way that the other therapies do, thus allowing additional oxygen to pass through tissue unrestricted.
"It brings into focus that the much more affordable mild hyperbaric therapy is an accessible alternative to expensive high-pressure hyperbaric therapy and does not compromise a patient's standard of care," Dr. Mukherjee admits.
This study has far-reaching implications for other neurological conditions as well. Facing the sky-rocketing costs of treating traumatic brain injury for recovering veterans, stroke, and autism, this study brings hope to those families struggling to afford this greatly desired therapy.
Dr. Arun Mukherjee is Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine, Majeedia Hospital, and Hamdard University, New Delhi, India, and a member of the International Hyperbarics Association.
Source: International Hyperbarics Association
24 July 2010
On Inner Belief and Persistence.
So,
I just want to say that this is going to be my very first blog that will be written in my underwear. It’s fun an relaxing, and I like it!
A thought came to mind a few moments ago, and it had to do with my self confidence. I can remember growing up being somewhat confident in anything I was going up against in life. It didn’t matter what it was, because there was a determination to get the victory over the challenge in front of me.
When I first started Judo, as a kid I probably only weighed about 90 some pounds all together, the first kid I ever took on in Rondori (sparring) out weighed me by a hundred pounds I bet. My buddy Rich was a brown belt at the time. He watched from the sidelines as me and the bigger kid squared off. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to move the kid a whole lot, so I attacked his legs and caused him to loose balance several times.
After that I felt like I could take on anyone, no matter the height or weight. My buddy Rich afterwards patted me on the back and said: “man, you kicked his ass!” A grin went from ear to ear. Looking back on it, I’m not sure what happened to it. I used to have a confidence when talking to girls, but now oh days I refrain, for the fact that I might sound really stupid.
The other day I was sitting in the lobby before seeing my counselor, and this girl walked in an smiled at me. And I returned one back, but then she just went back to texting her life away on her phone. I made compliments on her tattoos, and she would look up an smile. A few moments later I asked how she was, but she just kinda shrugged her shoulders and kept texting.
I haven’t always been like this, afraid of failure. But I am. I’ve found that my inner belief is linked to the beliefs of others around me. I have big goals in my sites, but it seems like people are waiting for me to fall on my ass, so that I know just how hard some things are in life.
I swear to you, I’m not clueless. I know that the world we live in is very cruel, twisted and unfair. It’s like walking/running on a treadmill. If your legs and feet are not moving fast enough, you can fall down flat on your face. You can try to go as fast as you can to keep up, but no matter how hard you try, sometimes you need someone to come saving you from becoming a cartoon charecter.
There is a segment in the Matrix that goes like this:
Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you’re fighting for something? For more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or
purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself. Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can’t win. It’s pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson, Why? Why do you persist?
That is exactly what repeats in my ear. Why do we choose to keep running up stream? It’s because we long for rest, a drink of refreshing water, knowing we fought our hearts out. That’s why I persist. Inner confidence can sometimes be hidden in our eyes, but there’s a fire in the belly that compells to keep us moving forward.
I have hope in the pit of my stomach. Do you have hope?
-Brandon
I just want to say that this is going to be my very first blog that will be written in my underwear. It’s fun an relaxing, and I like it!
A thought came to mind a few moments ago, and it had to do with my self confidence. I can remember growing up being somewhat confident in anything I was going up against in life. It didn’t matter what it was, because there was a determination to get the victory over the challenge in front of me.
When I first started Judo, as a kid I probably only weighed about 90 some pounds all together, the first kid I ever took on in Rondori (sparring) out weighed me by a hundred pounds I bet. My buddy Rich was a brown belt at the time. He watched from the sidelines as me and the bigger kid squared off. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to move the kid a whole lot, so I attacked his legs and caused him to loose balance several times.
After that I felt like I could take on anyone, no matter the height or weight. My buddy Rich afterwards patted me on the back and said: “man, you kicked his ass!” A grin went from ear to ear. Looking back on it, I’m not sure what happened to it. I used to have a confidence when talking to girls, but now oh days I refrain, for the fact that I might sound really stupid.
The other day I was sitting in the lobby before seeing my counselor, and this girl walked in an smiled at me. And I returned one back, but then she just went back to texting her life away on her phone. I made compliments on her tattoos, and she would look up an smile. A few moments later I asked how she was, but she just kinda shrugged her shoulders and kept texting.
I haven’t always been like this, afraid of failure. But I am. I’ve found that my inner belief is linked to the beliefs of others around me. I have big goals in my sites, but it seems like people are waiting for me to fall on my ass, so that I know just how hard some things are in life.
I swear to you, I’m not clueless. I know that the world we live in is very cruel, twisted and unfair. It’s like walking/running on a treadmill. If your legs and feet are not moving fast enough, you can fall down flat on your face. You can try to go as fast as you can to keep up, but no matter how hard you try, sometimes you need someone to come saving you from becoming a cartoon charecter.
There is a segment in the Matrix that goes like this:
Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you’re fighting for something? For more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or
purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself. Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can’t win. It’s pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson, Why? Why do you persist?
That is exactly what repeats in my ear. Why do we choose to keep running up stream? It’s because we long for rest, a drink of refreshing water, knowing we fought our hearts out. That’s why I persist. Inner confidence can sometimes be hidden in our eyes, but there’s a fire in the belly that compells to keep us moving forward.
I have hope in the pit of my stomach. Do you have hope?
-Brandon
Concering Scripture and Skin Hunger.
Hello all my friends in Blog world. I hope you all are well and drinking lots of water. Wow that was a great opening line huh? The folks at Gatorade would be highly, highly impressed. I really have no idea why I just wrote that, but hey, it sounded funny in my head.
Life has been pretty well, still cooking and learned how to do laundry as well. Next on the list is to tackle driving, and handle some more stuff concerning going back to College. So yeah, things are movin and grooven.
Patients though, well that’s another thing all in it’s self. Humans want things right now, and not any other time. Myself included. Anyway in terms of my writing I’m making a good amount of progress, the pages are adding up and things seem to be taking shape. However slow, however nerve wracking.
Even though the topic of touch and skin hunger are spilling over in my life, a certain timid-ness makes it’s self known in my heart and guts. To me these are important issues, yet I’m so sure (in numbers) how important it is to other people.
Currently I’m sharing about a girl who is Autistic, was abandoned by her parents and left to be raised by dogs for six years, that’s not the whole story there’re so very powerful redeeming qualities to it. Developmentally this young lady is only six years old, in a twenty-three year olds body. Her story captures me, and I see and sence God’s love for her. And that he has given her nothing but love, grace and compassion.
These are my convictions, the other day I was praying for certain scriptures that I could use in these writings. The first one that came to mind was Luke 18:15-17; which reads like this:
“Some people were even bringing infants to him so he might touch them, (key word-touch) but when the disciples saw it they rebuked them. (The babies and children’s parents Jesus, however, invited them: Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Perhaps I’m in danger of taking this out of it’s proper context, but this young lady, developmentally is still a child. A beautiful one at that, and I believe that this verse calls out to people such as her. I simply do not see why God would extend his hand to her.
What do you think? Am I in danger of taking the verse out of it’s context?
Can you help me think of other passages in scripture that deal with touch or skin hunger?
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
Life has been pretty well, still cooking and learned how to do laundry as well. Next on the list is to tackle driving, and handle some more stuff concerning going back to College. So yeah, things are movin and grooven.
Patients though, well that’s another thing all in it’s self. Humans want things right now, and not any other time. Myself included. Anyway in terms of my writing I’m making a good amount of progress, the pages are adding up and things seem to be taking shape. However slow, however nerve wracking.
Even though the topic of touch and skin hunger are spilling over in my life, a certain timid-ness makes it’s self known in my heart and guts. To me these are important issues, yet I’m so sure (in numbers) how important it is to other people.
Currently I’m sharing about a girl who is Autistic, was abandoned by her parents and left to be raised by dogs for six years, that’s not the whole story there’re so very powerful redeeming qualities to it. Developmentally this young lady is only six years old, in a twenty-three year olds body. Her story captures me, and I see and sence God’s love for her. And that he has given her nothing but love, grace and compassion.
These are my convictions, the other day I was praying for certain scriptures that I could use in these writings. The first one that came to mind was Luke 18:15-17; which reads like this:
“Some people were even bringing infants to him so he might touch them, (key word-touch) but when the disciples saw it they rebuked them. (The babies and children’s parents Jesus, however, invited them: Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Perhaps I’m in danger of taking this out of it’s proper context, but this young lady, developmentally is still a child. A beautiful one at that, and I believe that this verse calls out to people such as her. I simply do not see why God would extend his hand to her.
What do you think? Am I in danger of taking the verse out of it’s context?
Can you help me think of other passages in scripture that deal with touch or skin hunger?
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
On Perfection and Truth -Rant-
I wish someone could turn off my brain for awhile, but yet my body still function. Like I could still live my normal days, just not feel so hard pressed. For example I’m seven pages into the new writing, which equals out to one chapter. And I’m looking at it, and I’m noticing how layered my life is. Or that I jump around from thought to thought. Everything is still very much word vomit and I suppose it’s drivng me mad. And I’m MR. critical, so that doesn’t help in the matter.
A friend told me recently in a email that ironicly a lot of the good writers think that their not good writers at all. And the one’s that think their just are amazing, really are not that good at all. I mean were told in the scriptures not to think to high of ourselves, or to low of ourselves. Yet there seems to be this on going process to finding the balance on how we rank ourselves based on our talents. A lot of people love my words, but because an agent has yet to endorse me, and handed me a nice advance that keeps me from seeing worthwhile.
It kills to crave perfection, someone could rank me a perfect ten as a writer, and I’d give myself a two or a four. It’s the same way with life. Some say that we’ve lived a great live, but really feel like we haven’t lived a great life. I don’t think I’m very good at living life at all, especially when it comes to living the life of a Christian.
All I really want to do is just is open up this heart of mine, and share with the world what’s being going on in my life. But I hold myself back because I’m afraid of the possible reprocussians that might come my way. I was reading MSN news the other day, and this famous female Country singer came out as a homosexual. She was saying how she was on her knees praying, and as she was she felt God whisper to her: All I want for you to do is just tell the truth.” The truth about her life… Man is that powerful, and I’m not even saying that agree or disagree with what she’s chosen to do in her life.
But as a writer, I have some what of a moral responsability to tell the truth. Right? I was sitting in my room yesterday, everything was quiet. And I just starting praying that I wanted to make God happy with the talents he’s given me. Again, this is where perfection kills me, I want to give him something perfect. The truth is I can’t, but I can give him my utter most best.
Yes, I’m a people pleaser, I want people to like me and love. But even when you give everything you got, someones not going to like it. So I think a lot of people have to find what is worth more to them..
-Brandon
A friend told me recently in a email that ironicly a lot of the good writers think that their not good writers at all. And the one’s that think their just are amazing, really are not that good at all. I mean were told in the scriptures not to think to high of ourselves, or to low of ourselves. Yet there seems to be this on going process to finding the balance on how we rank ourselves based on our talents. A lot of people love my words, but because an agent has yet to endorse me, and handed me a nice advance that keeps me from seeing worthwhile.
It kills to crave perfection, someone could rank me a perfect ten as a writer, and I’d give myself a two or a four. It’s the same way with life. Some say that we’ve lived a great live, but really feel like we haven’t lived a great life. I don’t think I’m very good at living life at all, especially when it comes to living the life of a Christian.
All I really want to do is just is open up this heart of mine, and share with the world what’s being going on in my life. But I hold myself back because I’m afraid of the possible reprocussians that might come my way. I was reading MSN news the other day, and this famous female Country singer came out as a homosexual. She was saying how she was on her knees praying, and as she was she felt God whisper to her: All I want for you to do is just tell the truth.” The truth about her life… Man is that powerful, and I’m not even saying that agree or disagree with what she’s chosen to do in her life.
But as a writer, I have some what of a moral responsability to tell the truth. Right? I was sitting in my room yesterday, everything was quiet. And I just starting praying that I wanted to make God happy with the talents he’s given me. Again, this is where perfection kills me, I want to give him something perfect. The truth is I can’t, but I can give him my utter most best.
Yes, I’m a people pleaser, I want people to like me and love. But even when you give everything you got, someones not going to like it. So I think a lot of people have to find what is worth more to them..
-Brandon
my life has just begun... :)
Okay, so this is my first blog ever, so it might not be the best you've read but hey!
So, I'll start with my details :)
Name Ella Joy Shipley
Birthday: 17 December 1996 (born 3 months early)
Now I am 13 and getting on with life no matter what gets in my way :)
I fell this song kind of sums up my whole life really
When i get older i Will be stronger they`ll call me fredom just like a wavin` flag♫
So, I'll start with my details :)
Name Ella Joy Shipley
Birthday: 17 December 1996 (born 3 months early)
Now I am 13 and getting on with life no matter what gets in my way :)
I fell this song kind of sums up my whole life really
When i get older i Will be stronger they`ll call me fredom just like a wavin` flag♫
09 July 2010
Gameworld: Motion games broaden uses beyond exercise
By John Gaudiosi
Reuters
Thursday, July 8, 2010; 6:30 PM
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - Ever since Nintendo launched the Wii, gamers have been interacting with characters and working out with virtual trainers in titles like Electronic Arts' "EA Sports Active" or Ubisoft's "Your Shape."
Nintendo is even encouraging families to exercise together with "Wii Games: Summer 2010," a national tour that kicks off in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 16 with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson serving as an ambassador for the competition.
Now researchers, scientists and game developers are using Nintendo's console for many other health-oriented applications, and in some cases are getting millions of dollars in grants to dream up new technologies.
A recent gathering of over 400 top minds at the sixth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston found innovative new ways that video games with motion-sensor controllers are being used to help doctors and patients.
Through a grant from the National Institute of Health, Red Hill Games and the School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco are using Wii technology to create games that help people with Parkinson's disease improve their balance. One called "Rail Runner" requires patients to stand up and sit down to operate an old-fashioned railroad hand cart.
"Most of these patients are in their 70s and 80s, and they really love these games," said Bob Hone, creative director at Red Hill Studios. "They really want something that's going to address their disease, and what's different is these games are designed specifically for them."
Red Hill is incorporating similar Wii technology into games to help improve gait and balance in kids with Cerebral Palsy.
"These kids sometimes have physical challenges, so we've taken that into account to make games where they feel like they're walking and they get to the finish line successfully," said Hone.
Reuters
Thursday, July 8, 2010; 6:30 PM
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - Ever since Nintendo launched the Wii, gamers have been interacting with characters and working out with virtual trainers in titles like Electronic Arts' "EA Sports Active" or Ubisoft's "Your Shape."
Nintendo is even encouraging families to exercise together with "Wii Games: Summer 2010," a national tour that kicks off in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 16 with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson serving as an ambassador for the competition.
Now researchers, scientists and game developers are using Nintendo's console for many other health-oriented applications, and in some cases are getting millions of dollars in grants to dream up new technologies.
A recent gathering of over 400 top minds at the sixth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston found innovative new ways that video games with motion-sensor controllers are being used to help doctors and patients.
Through a grant from the National Institute of Health, Red Hill Games and the School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco are using Wii technology to create games that help people with Parkinson's disease improve their balance. One called "Rail Runner" requires patients to stand up and sit down to operate an old-fashioned railroad hand cart.
"Most of these patients are in their 70s and 80s, and they really love these games," said Bob Hone, creative director at Red Hill Studios. "They really want something that's going to address their disease, and what's different is these games are designed specifically for them."
Red Hill is incorporating similar Wii technology into games to help improve gait and balance in kids with Cerebral Palsy.
"These kids sometimes have physical challenges, so we've taken that into account to make games where they feel like they're walking and they get to the finish line successfully," said Hone.
07 July 2010
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