Showing posts with label occupational therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label occupational therapy. Show all posts

Saturday, 25 February 2012

Stroke patients' experiences with Wii Sports® during inpatient rehabilitation

Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Posted online on February 20, 2012
Authors: Dora Celinder & Hanne Peoples
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Abstract

Introduction: Commercial virtual reality games have been used as adjunct therapy for stroke rehabilitation, mainly after patients have been discharged. The aim of this study was to explore stroke patients' experiences with Wii Sports® as a supplement to conventional occupational therapy in a controlled hospital setting.

Materials and methods: The study had a qualitative triangulation design that included semi-structured interviews and field notes. Nine Danish stroke patients participated, receiving between one and nine interventions with Wii Sports® during a three-week period. Responses were coded by qualitative content analysis.

Results: Analysis revealed one overarching category, “Connecting to past, present, and future occupations”, and three categories that encompassed patients' experiences with Wii: (i) variety, (ii) engagement, and (iii) obstacles and challenges. Interview findings were confirmed by field notes that included observations of engagement and challenges.

Discussion: Stroke patients in hospital settings may experience Wii Sports® as a beneficial and challenging occupation for both rehabilitation and leisure. Incorporation of Wii Sports® into conventional occupational therapy services may benefit patient rehabilitation directly or provide motivation for alternative leisure activities.

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Sunday, 30 October 2011

The Utility of a Video Game System in Rehabilitation of Burn and Nonburn Patients: A Survey Among Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Practitioners

Journal of Burn Care & Research:
September/October 2010 - Volume 31 - Issue 5 - pp 768-775

Fung, Vera BSc, MSc PT; So, Ken MSc OT; Park, Esther MSc PT; Ho, Aileen BSc PT; Shaffer, Jennifer BSc PT; Chan, Elaine MSc OT; Gomez, Manuel MD, MSc

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate perceptions of occupational therapists and physiotherapists on the use of Nintendo Wii™ (Nintendo of America Inc., Redmond, WA) in rehabilitation. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists in a rehabilitation hospital trialed four Wii games that addressed physical movement, balance, coordination, and cognitive performance. Then, they completed an opinion survey on the utility of Wii in rehabilitation. The results were compared between burn care therapists (BTs) and nonburn care therapists, using χ2 with a P < .05 considered significant. The participation rate was 79% (63/80), and they agreed that Wii was easy to set up (71%), operate (68%), and safe to use (76%). Participants agreed that Wii would be beneficial in outpatient (76%) and inpatient (65%) settings and that it could improve treatment compliance (73%). Participants recommended 15 to 30-minute Wii intervention (59%) daily (81%) and twice per week (43%). Participants believed that neurologic (71%), trauma (68%), burn (59%), and musculoskeletal (49%) patients would benefit from Wii intervention but not cardiac (43%) or organ transplant patients (18%). Participants believed that outcomes using Wii could be measured reliably (49%), and skills learned while playing could be transferable to daily function (60%). The significant differences between BTs and nonburn care therapists' perceptions are that BT-treated younger patients (21–40 years vs >60 years, P < .05) and BT favored the therapeutic benefit of Wii in rehabilitation (93% vs 58%, P = .02), specifically in burn rehabilitation (85% vs 39%, P = .001). Occupational therapists and physiotherapists favored the use of Wii in rehabilitation as an adjunct to traditional therapy because it is therapeutic, engaging, and may increase patient participation in rehabilitation.

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