After years and years of hearing people say how bad video games can be, a new study has found that patients recuperating from a stroke can benefit from playing Wii.

In a recent Canadian study, researchers found that in therapy stroke victims were responding well to the virtual reality games. The motions associated with the Wii games helped fine tune the patients motor skills and helped them regain dexterity and motion. Using a small group for the initial research, the Canadian researchers used games such as Cooking Mania and Tennis. In an adjacent study, stroke suffers were given non-virtual therapy such as stacking wooden blocks.

The study found that those in the video game group recovered their range of motion much quicker than their counterparts. Similar studies have been performed in the Toronto area that has given the same results.

Other areas of medicine have been incorporating the use of video games and virtual reality into their treatment plans. What doctors have found is that these games are showing higher success rates than the standard treatments alone. While no one is quite sure why these treatments have been so successful, the “fun” element should not be discarded. It has been shown in many other studies that happiness is one of the best treatments for sickness.

While further evidence is needed to make this a valid form of therapy, doctors and therapists are excited about this treatment plan. Medical professionals are pushing hard for validation of this therapy because of the many benefits it provides. The Wii game console is small and portable making treatment more mobile. The cost is relatively inexpensive compared to some current in-house therapy treatments. This will mean that more people that need therapy can be helped without drastic financial responsibilities. Overall, this brings a lot of hope to patients and treatment providers alike.

Wii-Gaming Could Aid Stroke Rehab