Doctor Out to Prove Wii Helps in TBI Recovery
Doctor Bruce Battles of Kentucky is convinced that the use of the video game system Nintendo Wii helps victims of a traumatic brain injury to recover. In an effort to prove his claim he has started seven TBI patients playing Wii one hour a day, five days a week, for six months. “Two of our subjects actually went from severe level to moderate,” said Dr. Battles. “Six of the seven showed improved memory.” His study found that half of his patients increased their range of motion and most improved social skills starting with Wii Bowling and Tennis. A patient with a 29-year-old brain injury even improved his short-term memory. “This shows the brain still can function,” said Dr. Battles. “There still can be things to unlock from the brain that we though t were sitting dormant and were never going to work again.” Dr. Battles also believes that those recovering from stroke could benefit, “Not only for the TBI patients involved in this, but potentially for stroke victims in doing so you can recover at a faster rate.” He has been presenting the results of his study around the country.
