Wii Fit being used for rehabilitation purposes in UK hospital

News by Mike Bowden Staff Writer (Former)

Published on Jan. 6, 2009

Patients in Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, England, are able to practice using their prosthetic limbs with the help of Wii Fit and the balance board, writes NintendoWorldReport.

Many prosthetic limb patients have trouble "getting their weight through the prosthetic limb," says senior physiotherapist Lynn Hirst. Wii Fit helps them to see "where they are taking their weight."

Patient David Crossland, 60, reckons Wii Fit is "marvelous" and that "it makes sure you have got your balance" which is important when "learning to walk again."

Hirst also points out that the it has allowed Crossland to do things like "ski down a mountain or head a football during sessions using the machine – even though he has a prosthetic leg."

Nintendo UK declined to comment "as this is led by the hospital and not any official Nintendo activity," said a rep to videogaming247.