Playing the Wii Balance Board could help patients with multiple sclerosis improve their balance and precision of movement. This is what a recent study suggests.
Playing video games doesn’t have to be mind-numbing. The Nintendo Wii is a great specialist in the genre that could even help people with multiple sclerosis (MS). According to a recent study, its daily practice improves the balance and precision of movements in these patients.
Regular physical exercise
A team of researchers from Sapenzia University in Rome (Italy) studied the brains of 27 people using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of these people, 14 of them have multiple sclerosis , a neurological disease manifested by motor disturbances as well as disturbances in balance and walking.
For 12 weeks, participants played Wii Work Balance every day. The game consists of reproducing the same movements as board sports (surfing, skiing). After the experiment, MRI scans indicated improvements in the movements of MS patients, as well as in their balance. “These results should have a strong impact on the patient rehabilitation process”, considers Professor Prosperini, lead author of the study.
A better brain
The researchers also found that the brains of fitness-savvy MS patients were in better condition. “Regular sports practice has beneficial effects on the brain’s capacity to establish new connections allowing it to adapt to new situations”, notes Dr Prosperini. However, the benefits observed on the balance and the precision of the movements disappeared twelve months after the experiment. Dr Prosperini therefore insists on the importance of practicing physical activity on a regular basis. “The Wii could be an effective new tool for these patients. As long as you play it regularly and over the long term, ”he concludes.
In France, 70,000 to 90,000 people suffer from MS. On average, 4,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
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