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Wii Fit Does Like Jesus

Posted by Nadia Oxford

Thousands of years ago, crippled individuals had to ask for some hocus-pocus from a Jewish carpenter. A bit later down the line, medical science filled in for the J-Man (who did an awesome job but had a sketchy schedule). Now, video games are lending a hand to heal the unsteady.

In Ireland, a girl took her first steps in four years thanks in part to the yoga and balance games in Wii Fit. I'm intrigued by this story not only because it's yet another example of how video games can benefit us aside from making sure our shooting stays sharp for the inevitable alien invasion: I went through knee surgery some years ago and I wish I'd had something as interesting as Wii Fit to help me through the monotony of physiotherapy.

For instance, the physiotherapist who worked with me aimed to have me standing evenly on two legs again. It's a memory I flashed back to when the Wii Fit board told me I leaned like the Tower of Pisa, except the physiotherapist used two scales, which was slightly more crude than the Wii Balance Board. Also, the Balance Board has more personality than my physiotherapist did.

I'm glad for this girl who can walk again because it was hard to come back from my surgery, which was significantly less intense than coming back from a leg-wrecking virus over the course of four years. One large part of physiotherapy involves hooking up mild electric currents to the patient's muscles in order to stimulate deadened nerves; if Nintendo works on an attachment, hey, we'll be making medical miracles!

In all seriousness, it's good to know that Wii Fit has done a great deed in the name of a child's health. It also makes it easier to accept that I cannot be together with the male yoga trainer, for his calling is too noble to keep him tied to one place forever.

Related Links:

Wii Do Not Fit Into One Category
Whatcha Playing: Wii Fit
Capcom Might Just "Get" The Wii

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Posted Jan 22 2009, 11:03 PM

Filed under: wii, wii fit, nadia oxford, health, physiotherapy, ireland

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John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself.

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