Weight loss success with a video game

One woman lost 33 pounds with the help of a video game. That video game is EA Sports Active. At first she was skeptical that a video game could help her to lose weight, but she took the program seriously and also watched what she ate. She completed the 30-day challenge in the game 3 times, eventually leading to her 33-pound weight loss. Throughout her challenges she began to combine the Active workouts with walks and even some running, which helped her to build up endurance. Her success with EA Sports Active inspired her to engage in other kinds of exercise with her friends. She even became a community leader when EA Sports Active community announced their plan to host a 5K run, and she's currently leading a challenge in her community so that she and her neighbors can help support and motivate one another to become more fit and healthy. She says that EA Sports Active helped her build confidence she didn't know she had

Wii Fit Plus users invited to use Twin Galaxies

According to this press release, Twin Galaxies International, the video game scorekeeping organization founded in 1981, is inviting users of the popular Wii Fit Plus by Nintendo to participate in it's scoreboard database.
"Twin Galaxies hopes that Wii Fit Plus users of all ages will record and submit to our database," Patrick Scott Patterson, a Division Manager for Twin Galaxies, said. "It is our hope that people sharing their goals and accomplishments will help users set new fitness challenges for themselves and others."

For information on how to record and submit your Wii Fit Plus accomplishments and for official Twin Galaxies rankings, visit the Twin Galaxies website. Signing up only takes a few minutes and it's completely free. Twin Galaxies also accepts data submission for other Wii fitness games.

Nintendo Wii Balance Board could prevent falls

A study, led by Dr Ross Clark of the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne, which compared the balance data derived from the Nintendo Wii Balance Board with the data collected from a laboratory grade force plate, a metal based system which typically costs more than $20,000, found that the Nintendo Wii Balance Board collects data comparable to the force plate. The study concluded that The Nintendo Wii Balance Board could be a far cheaper alternative than professional diagnostic tests for clinicians to test balance in elderly partners or in patients with neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

Wii therapy in Columbus: From rehabilitation to special education

Tim Barrett, Columbus Special Education Examiner, writes about a hospital in Columbus Ohio, which has introduced the use of the Nintendo Wii to help people undergoing therapy to rebuild their muscles following a stroke, brain damage or spinal cord trauma.
In his article he also lists six examples of the benefits emerging from Wii play:
1. The Wii can divert the attention of the subject off of the pain associated with movement making it easier to do the movement.
2. "Virtual PE" from a wheelchair is possible in special needs classrooms.
3. Teachers, specialists and assistants often hold and assist the student with the Wii remote to model movement, the swing, roll, punch, etc.


4. Better circulation of limbs is occurring.


5. Games support eye/hand coordination and students are able to "whack the ball out of the park" on the Wii.
6. Color and shape recognition is increasing.


Select Target stores feature Wii Fit Plus Experience demo with Nintendo

Nintendo and Target are teaming up for the “Wii Fit Experience” which will be held in the parking lot or entrance of the stores January 16-31, at select locations. Those who complete the Wii Fit Plus demo will receive a $15 gift card (while supplies last), which can be applied toward any Target purchase. The Wii Fit Experience can be found at the following locations:

Jan. 16-17
2705 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

3201 Preston Rd
Frisco, TX 75034

1525 Market Place Blvd.
Cumming, GA 30041

Jan. 23-24
1800 W. Empire Ave.
Burbank, CA 91504

2200 Dallas Parkway
Plano, TX 75093

15005 SW 88th St.
Miami, FL 33196

Jan. 30-31
24425 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355

25901 Highway 290
Cypress, TX 77429

100 Perimeter Center Place
Atlanta, GA 30346

The nine locations mentioned above will feature eight kiosks where visitors can get a demonstration of the Wii Fit plus. “The Wii Fit Plus sampling events give our guests the opportunity to try out this popular fitness game before making a purchase,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president of Target.

The Pokemon pedometer

Can Pokémon end childhood obesity?
Nintendo has revealed the Pokéwalker - a pedometer that interacts with the Nintendo DS via infrared, which will accompany the European release of Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version in March. Players can transfer any of their Pokémon into the Pokéwalker and then train them by taking them for an actual walk.
For every step you take while wearing the PokeWalker the transferred Pokémon will gain experience and happiness, eventually leveling up when a certain amount of steps are reached. So walking around a lot will mean you can do better in the game therefore creating a direct link between playing and exercise.

Versatility of programs using the Wii for rehabilitation and exercise

Reported in the U.K. Sun was a story about Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security institution in Britain, home to serial killers, rapists, and murderers recently receiving Wii’s purchased by taxpayer money. A spokesperson for the center said that the Wii and Wii Fit were important for their patient’s mental and physical rehabilitation programs and part of a strategy to increase exercise. As you can imagine, this news is causing quite a bit controversy with Britain’s citizens, many wondering if it's right for society to pay to entertain these patients. But it does go to show you the versatility of programs using the Wii for rehabilitation and exercise.