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Wounded G.I.s' New Rehab: Wii Sports, Guitar Hero
ebeast says,
It's great that some innovative physical therapists were able to make rehab more interesting for this wounded GI. Having seen my husband going through some physical therapy, I know that it's not just physically difficult but a mental struggle. It's hard to think of putting yourself through pain & discomfort to see small, incremental improvements.
Coupled with fun games, the mental hurdle is diminished quite a bit, since it's fun. And most likely, a person that has been physically wounded would have an interest in playing video games just to keep themselves entertained, to keep from going crazy from boredom.
I think this is a great idea. Now, he just has to avoid getting tennis elbow & Guitar Hero RSI! :D
Article excerpt from wired.com —
"Army medic Matt Bell couldn't even tie his own shoes, after he was shot by a sniper, just above the left clavicle. There was major nerve damage in one hand; a shoulder was barely functional.
Now, a year and half later, Bell has a great deal of his mobility back -- thanks, in part, to his Nintendo Wii .
"' Wii Sports' forces him to...
Read the full article at wired.com »
Read the full article at wired.com »
Posted 3 years ago
This sparks the question: what's next? I have joked that I'd like to see a soccer game for the Wii, but maybe it's not too far-fetched. Maybe you can do this by holstering the controller to one leg and the nunchaku part to the other leg. This would help with leg rehab, especially if you could play while sitting down.
Or, you could trip on the wire and break your spine. :|
Or, you could trip on the wire and break your spine. :|
Posted 3 years ago
In addition to using "over the counter" video games for physical rehab, they're also developing highly realistic VR-type simulations to help vets deal with PTSD; apparently they are able to recreate combat situations with enough realism that it stimulates a level of fear that is useful to recreate for the psychological therapy.
Posted 3 years ago
Wow, I had no idea. That's pretty amazing and pretty damn smart. I hadn't thought about the angle of creating fear situations to help psychological issues. I recently listened to an episode of NPR's This American Life podcast that dealt with a vet's PTSD. It was really powerful and moving, and showed me a glimpse of a problem that I don't have any real understanding of. I think the general public shares my lack of knowledge about what is available for vets when they come back.
I am glad that support for vets is reaching into ground-breaking territory. Now, if only we'd raise the funding/budgets for vet support programs!
I am glad that support for vets is reaching into ground-breaking territory. Now, if only we'd raise the funding/budgets for vet support programs!
Posted 3 years ago
Interesting. I don't know enough about PTSD to know what a person goes through, but I imagine through simulation and repetition you could get someone to repeat the stressful situations and by subtly adapting the situation "ease" them out of it.
I don't think games desensitize you to violence - that wouldn't be the point - the point would be that the reward structure of the game could train the player to think about the situation in a different way. The details of how would depend on what the specific issues are, but I'd venture that you could create simulations/experiences that not only recreate the fear/trauma, but work to dispel it as well.
I don't think games desensitize you to violence - that wouldn't be the point - the point would be that the reward structure of the game could train the player to think about the situation in a different way. The details of how would depend on what the specific issues are, but I'd venture that you could create simulations/experiences that not only recreate the fear/trauma, but work to dispel it as well.
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