Welcome to Coastal Clinics

Our goal is the promotion of wellness, increased patient functioning and quality of life.

WiiHab

The Wii is now being used commonly in therapy and rehabilitation in many countries. It requires the user to move during play offering an excellent distraction to exercise, whilst acting as a good motivational tool. It can also be more fun than conventional exercise yet still energetic.

Playing the Wii is a great way to improve your balance, coordination, reaction speed, dexterity, memory and most importantly general fitness.

It can be used in a number of ways as a therapy tool for rehabilitation:

  • The Wii can be used as a tool to improve balance which, in turn can help maintain good control of posture improve core stability. To Balance correctly requires both sides of the body need to work equally and together. This is essential to all activities including sitting, standing, walking and so on.
  • Poor balance can lead to poor posture, therefore causing back pain or discomfort in other joints. Poor standing balance may lead to an increased risk of falling, particularly in the elderly. Hence, working the muscles that control posture and balance is important and may make them stronger.
  • Using the Wii there are several ways you can work on your balance. The main way is to use the Wii Fit Board. This can be used by either sitting or standing on the board.
    • Working on movements within and outside of base of support can help improve sitting balance.
    • The Wii Fit program can help improve dynamic standing balance by either standing using the controller and playing the games or by simply standing on the platform practicing balance. Games which involve standing on the balance board require you to use your body weight to control the game. This is done by controlling the movement of body weight from side to side, forward and back or a combination of all directions, working your stomach, back and core muscles, and improving their function.
  • Proprioception (the body’s ability to detect movement and be aware of the position of joints) is developed through use of the Wii Fit board. This interprets the movements made by the user by sensing changes in weight transference, hence acting as a control for the games.
  • Upper limb strength may be improved, but most likely only in people with injuries or significant weakness.
  • Lower limb movement - the Wii Fit board allows practice of exercises and games involving movement and control of the lower limbs.
  • Several games aim to increase heart rate and circulation, thus improving cardiovascular fitness and health. Some of the games which do this include Wii Fit Running, Wii Fit Boxing and Mario and Sonic Olympic Games Swimming.
  • The Wii is easy to use and accessible for all ages and abilities. It can be enjoyed socially as well as being a valuable tool for therapy. 

Most importantly, it gets the body moving. So come in and see for yourself.