Wii boxing helps pro pugilist's rehab

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted May 21, 2007 5:08 pm PT

It was boxing that put Albert Liaw in a wheelchair with a stroke and a brain injury, and it's Wii boxing that is helping him recover. According to an article in The Edmonton Journal, the Alberta, Canada-based Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is using the Wii as a motivational tool to help patients...

It was boxing that put Albert Liaw in a wheelchair with a stroke and a brain injury, and it's Wii boxing that is helping him recover. According to an article in The Edmonton Journal, the Alberta, Canada-based Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is using the Wii as a motivational tool to help patients like Liaw regain movement and balance after debilitating injuries.

The Journal reports the Wii has been helpful in giving patients a reason to keep up their physical therapy despite the strain on their muscles and minds. However, it's not enough for them to simply play the games; they need to play them with specific motions that train the patients' muscles.

The Wii treatment has helped Liaw get back on his feet and regain some use of his left arm. While he isn't likely to set foot in a ring competitively again, he hopes to become a boxing trainer.

Occupational therapist Jonathan Halton brought the idea to Glenrose, which the article says is the first in North America to use the Wii for rehabilitation.

142 Comments

  • Rendarian

    Posted Dec 6, 2007 11:20 pm PT

    I'd point out this is from Edmonton, Alberta. Take that, Calgary

  • Freezeryder

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:50 am PT

    Great stuff... so, when's Wii Sex coming out?

  • Freezeryder

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:49 am PT

    Great stuff... so, when's Wii Sex coming out?

  • apsalar

    Posted Jun 5, 2007 6:06 am PT

    cool idea....

  • Homsar13

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 5:34 pm PT

    i love the Wii

  • sens_rocks_40

    Posted Jun 4, 2007 5:31 pm PT

    what can't the wii do? hopefully this doesn't turn into console wars like every other gamespot article

  • Seiyox

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 11:56 am PT

    "smitacular "What a good news story, this is something the 360 and PS3 cant compete with"

    Uh, who cares? There's still not any good games other than TP for the Wii."

    That can be said for the other consoles as well. Other than possibly gears of war, what is even slightly good on the 360 other than ports of all PC titles like Morrowind: Oblivion (Which was good, but has been out of PC for quite a while now). And PS3... still nothing very interesting out there. x.x Sadly.. I was leaning more towards Sony for the longest time, but seeing how well Wii has done (I own one) it's amazing how many different purposes it can be used for, not only is it being used for rehab, it's an attraction at Six Flags. Motion Sensing is the next step towards VR/More interactive gameplay... Gameplay > Graphics, it's not hard to make consoles that have great graphics like the PS3/Xbox360 (which are still 3 generations back from the newest PC hardware), more interactive gameplay is going to be what gaming is about further down the road.

  • fmobliv06

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 8:10 pm PT

    it's great that the wii is able to help people recover. hopefully people find more helpful uses for it.

  • JimBurber

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 8:33 am PT

    The wii is turning out to be an amazing system! It's a very good compliment to have in your arsenal of gaming. I've never been happier with gaming before than I have been in 06'-07'

  • doffythebest

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 4:42 am PT

    It's great to hear that gaming isn't always only about fun.

    Good job

  • SirFatalChaos

    Posted Jun 2, 2007 3:04 am PT

    LOL amazing. Seems the Wii isn't being used for gaming entertainment yet used for exersize and therapy

  • blueflamedino

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 6:14 pm PT

    whatever floats your boat... as long as it does not completely replace professional advice

  • theone332

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 3:30 pm PT

    good news to prove games arent bad like those bum politicians see them as

  • Agreb91

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 12:19 pm PT

    Thats cool to see a game help someone recover.

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Jun 1, 2007 10:40 am PT

    Very cool! I wonder if my hospital would go for this? It would give me something to do on my break

  • rey06

    Posted May 31, 2007 9:01 pm PT

    the wii is my guardian angel or god!

  • iku94

    Posted May 31, 2007 7:27 am PT

    thats quite a good idea!

  • Chris62442

    Posted May 31, 2007 12:15 am PT

    I hope everyone using the Wii for rehab recovers.

  • KrazyKhallos

    Posted May 29, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    Which just goes to show that the Wii isn't just a budget-buy games console...

  • NND1

    Posted May 29, 2007 9:05 am PT

    the Wii iz Hot , well worth waking up at 4 am to buy one.

  • Zomif

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:53 am PT

    Making therapy fun is a part of good therapy. It reminds me of weight loss with DDR.

  • IRoxxorUrSoxxor

    Posted May 28, 2007 1:30 pm PT

    I temper my optimism with great caution in this case, but, in theory, some pretty awesome applications could come of this.

    That said, what they're doing with the Wii is nothing they couldn't get done with a physiotherapist.

  • SciFiCat

    Posted May 28, 2007 12:14 pm PT

    This is yet therapeutic application of video games, it has already been proven that videogames helps surgeons to become more proficient at performing endoscopic surgery and helps people with phobias to heal their conditions

  • Konfusion

    Posted May 28, 2007 9:04 am PT

    They need all the good press they can get before Manhunt hits. Then, it'll be "Wii helps killer train". Oh, I can see it...

  • FaytOfId

    Posted May 27, 2007 11:15 pm PT

    Games are not mindless activities, there have been scientific studies to prove it, though I cannot give a source (more-so that I don't feel like finding the source again) but while you play certain video games, and it's almost all games for that matter, you are using a lot more of your brain than most people think. games usually present a challenge, so you have to *gasp* learn how to overcome it. That isn't something you can do not using your mind, even if you physically are not being too active whatsoever. You are actually using a lot of areas of the brain during gameplay too.

  • myspaceboy

    Posted May 27, 2007 6:07 pm PT

    id rather hear that that""ps3 graphics melt 3 year old eyes"""

  • wiidominance

    Posted May 26, 2007 10:00 pm PT

    I was right from the beginning, the Wii when used properly is good for your health and can build ur body if u want to. I tried to tell the Sheep on the boards this, they would never listen ... sheep i say.... SHEEP !!!!

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted May 26, 2007 10:17 am PT

    they should use the punching bag version of wii boxing, you can realy work up a sweat if you play it 10 times in a row! my wrist are swolen

  • lctpp2

    Posted May 25, 2007 5:54 pm PT

    woah...gaming plus rehab! hehehe! glad i'm a gamer actually taking up occupational therapy! hahaha!

  • okassar

    Posted May 25, 2007 12:59 pm PT

    That is a very innovative technique,which,in case of minor-medium rehab,should be a good technique for rehab,and the good thing is,it's fun!....as opposed to...now bring your left knee all the way back to your chest,now hold it....hold it....hold it,good,now do the left knee!

  • sumbiznatch

    Posted May 25, 2007 9:13 am PT

    The Wii has magical powers! It can cure cancer! The Wii revolution is now. Everyone rise and cure your illnesses by playing the Wii! Pretty soon people are going to suffer from Wii-tardation.

  • -Ronin-_basic

    Posted May 25, 2007 8:45 am PT

    hardcoreicon

    One world: B.U.L.L ****

    -------------

    You make a good point. But it's... wait, no you don't. You don't make a point at all.

    Care to explain why physical activity being used for rehab purposes is "B.U.L.L.****", as you no doubt concluded in your informed opinion?

    Regardless of the context, physical activity returns strength to muscles. Is the Wii going to be the one thing that gets the whole country in to shape? Probably not. But it does SOMETHING. If it has someone moving to the point where it's therapeutic enough to help them recover from injuries, I find that pretty remarkable, considering it's a game console first (especially since games are given a good share of blame for kids being overweight).

  • Trision

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:47 pm PT

    Even though I'm a Xbox 360 fan I've got to give props to the Wii.

  • hardcoreicon

    Posted May 24, 2007 8:13 am PT

    One world: B.U.L.L ****

  • hardcoreicon

    Posted May 24, 2007 8:13 am PT

    ONE WORD: ****

  • mhder

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:59 am PT

    It might not just be about the Wii. This might introduce/force someone or some people to gaming who may have had negatives feelings or reluctance towards them. It might open their eyes and show them that gaming isn't(mostly) about sticky nerdy guys playing games in their parent's basement. When Nintendo expands the gaming market, it not only does it for themselves, but also for sony and MS.

  • osxgp

    Posted May 23, 2007 10:14 pm PT

    Whatever works.

  • Two400

    Posted May 23, 2007 9:17 pm PT

    i like playing with my wii

  • holycrowbar

    Posted May 23, 2007 6:48 pm PT

    i love reading news like this, where video games are helping people out. finally a bit of positive attention for video games

  • brittoss

    Posted May 23, 2007 6:38 pm PT

    Talk about over coming a mental barrier. Boxing was what caused him to have the stroke and now he is using boxing through the wii to rehabilitate. Thats got to be a huge thing right there.

  • roywood1

    Posted May 23, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    Although I like the wii and think this is a pretty cool use for it, I hate when people use these topics to bash the other consoles.

  • Zigmond1

    Posted May 23, 2007 2:27 pm PT

    okay so a wii is helping a guy recover good for that. woopdeedoo basil
    I live there and get well soon guy

  • Zonic505

    Posted May 23, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    Seeeee, video games ARE good for you!

  • Proman84

    Posted May 23, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    Wii, helps people heal? That might be true, but will Wii make you be a bigger man?

    I didn't think so.

    Still, this is cool news. They could probably customize the controllers to suit different purposes to help different patients. The technology is there.

    I also, think that patients would have been even more motivated had Wii actually had decent graphics (heh heh ).

  • devious122799

    Posted May 23, 2007 11:51 am PT

    Nintendo has ALWAYS had a different idea of what gaming is. Remember the Power pad? There interesting take on home entetainment has always make gamers (and non gamers) think out of the box as well.

  • RPGamer23

    Posted May 23, 2007 9:46 am PT

    @TTDog Rocky just had a "severe concussion" and by todays standard would be fine. Strokes affect not only your brain but your whole nervous system. My grandpa had one and he's never been the same since.

    As for the article, it's good to see video games not only helping mentally but physically as well.

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted May 23, 2007 8:52 am PT

    It was boxing that put Albert Liaw in a wheelchair with a stroke and a brain injury, and it's Wii boxing that is helping him recover. According to an article in The Edmonton Journal, the Alberta, Canada-based Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is using the Wii as a motivational tool to help patients like Liaw regain movement and balance after debilitating injuries.




    Translation: The Blootooth Wii-motes have developed a cure for brain cancer. Score one for Wii

  • pixelsword

    Posted May 23, 2007 8:39 am PT

    Tha's good for the patients... This is the closest the Wii will come to folding @ home. I give the Wii credit, at least they can also contribute to the good of gaming. The 360 can't even handle folding @home.

    http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,12133

    http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/03-05-2007-5386.html

  • smitacular

    Posted May 22, 2007 10:03 pm PT

    "What a good news story, this is something the 360 and PS3 cant compete with"

    Uh, who cares? There's still not any good games other than TP for the Wii.

  • Hoodlym_UK

    Posted May 22, 2007 7:35 pm PT

    7arek -
    "Bringing gaming to the masses seemed to work better than wii thought"

    AHHH BUURRNNN!!

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