Wii + rehab = Wiihab, the cycle is now complete
by Ryan Block 
posted Feb 9th 2008 at 3:43AM
It's not the first we've heard of the Wii being used for rehabilitation context, but it would appear "Wiihab" is becoming increasingly frequent. According to the AP, hospitals in states like Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina, and even Walter Reed Army Medical Center are all incorporating the Wii into physical therapy routines. Just in time, too, it would be really weird if Wiiitis or a nasty Wiinjury landed you in the hospital in the first place, your doctor used a Wii to hone his steady hand, and you didn't actually get to use a Wii to get your ass well enough to be discharged. Ah, what a world.
Filed under: Gaming
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Raymond Dang @ Feb 9th 2008 4:22AM
He’s trying to make me go to wiihab
I wont go, go, go.
jiggs @ Feb 9th 2008 10:35PM
Let's just hope Amy Winehouse gets one in her Grammy Awards gift bag.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Feb 9th 2008 5:14AM
What about detox? WiiTox? ^_^
On other side, I think Wii from casual crowd sits very close to commodities like DVD and CD players. I do not think that wide usage of Wii in all kind of niche translates into anything.
On other side, as point-and-click interface supporter, I have to say: suck it Xboxers and PS3iters. WiiMote (as immature it is) rules absolutely.
ethana2 @ Feb 9th 2008 7:18PM
PS3 + Ubuntu + Wiimote FTW.
...because gecko and webkit are better than presto. Period.
..and Amarok rules.
kevin @ Feb 9th 2008 7:45AM
People are getting healthier, and Nintendo's raking in the money.
Everyone's a Wiinner!
rento @ Feb 9th 2008 7:49AM
How about smoking wiid?
AngryJed @ Feb 9th 2008 8:03AM
Why do I see a class-action suit in the future when all these Wiihab patients start complaining of repetitive motion injuries? PT is borderline pseudoscience based upon my unhappy experiences and now they have a new, untested toy to hurt you with.
pquistgard @ Feb 9th 2008 8:47AM
Nintendo is certainly trying to reach out to a wide gamut of customers. Even celebrities now.
ethana2 @ Feb 9th 2008 7:19PM
I don't know... if that's really counts as its own demographic..
..I don't think it does.
ethana2 @ Feb 9th 2008 7:20PM
typo accompanied by another request for post edits, engadget.
..post edits.
gotsmart @ Feb 9th 2008 9:46AM
For a minute there, i thought you were going to make a "Wiipetitive Stwain Injuwii" joke.
MARSHAK @ Feb 9th 2008 10:14AM
this guy just divided by zero.
__smooth__ @ Feb 9th 2008 12:40PM
Look! it's Fred Durst!!!
Dave @ Feb 9th 2008 9:10PM
shit thats exactly what i was thinking!
AJ in the East Bay @ Feb 10th 2008 2:49AM
Great, so now every white guy that puts on his ball cap backwards is Fred Durst?
__smooth__ @ Feb 11th 2008 9:01AM
No, every white guy that puts on a cap backwards with a goatee is Fred Durst
jimmiss @ Feb 10th 2008 6:17PM
WiiHab for WiiTards.
Timerider @ Feb 11th 2008 4:54PM
What if you need rehab because of Wii?
Also, No More Heroes would be bad for physical therapy. A couple hours and my wrist felt like a cement mixer.
Billy @ Feb 21st 2008 2:09PM
I think it's great that productive uses are being found for the Wii. I know we all sometimes enjoy sitting on the couch, but now playing games can be therapeutic!
I blogged about this as well (http://qvisory.org/posts/patients-playing-their-way-to-recovery) but Engadget beat me to it. Don't you always!