Wii Test

They're getting fit the Wii way. Residents at the Waterford Retirement Community have been steppi...  More »

They're getting fit the Wii way. Residents at the Waterford Retirement Community have been stepping up to the balance board for the past eight weeks. It's all part of a graduation project that four University of Mary Doctoral students are completing. The students are trying to determine if using the Wii-fit will improve elderly people's balance. Waterford residents have been exercising on the Wii-fit gaming machine three times a week for the past eight weeks. Today they complete a final test to see if their balance has improved over time. (Brian Aasby/Physical Therapy Student at University of Mary) "From the beginning until now when I come back and see them performing on there its drastic differences in their balances. I dont think they necessarily see it right away because they are going from day to day and its hard to see change, but if you look at the whole picture you can see them definitely, you see more confidence in their standing. You see more balance, you see better strength in their legs." Pat King has been a part of the study since it began. She suffers from fibromyalgia. She says participating in the study has helped her condition. She says it also has taught her more about how strong her legs are. (Pat King/Waterford Resident, Age 80) "And it gives me a different perspective on what I can do and I think it has helped because they do give you some explainations on how to balance, shift your hips a little or something rather than your whole body and fall over." The four University of Mary student working on the project started about a year and a half ago. They developed the concept and are just now completing the study. They will present their results to the college in April. They say they have seen very little research on the exact topic and are hoping to publish their findings in a physical therapy magazine.  « Less