Woodbridge seniors go to Wiihab

By Josh Eiserike

Published: March 15, 2008

Mention the Power Pad, the Power Glove or even Dance Dance Revolution and Lillian Hignette, like many people of her generation, will have no idea what you’re talking about.

But one interactive video game is crossing generational lines—and helping senior citizens with their rehabilitation. Since October, some residents of Potomac Place, a senior assisted living community in Woodbridge, have been using the Nintendo Wii for therapy and rehabilitation. This marks the first time residents have incorporated video games in their therapy.

“I fall easily… but this helps me,” Hignette said, pointing to her three-wheeled walker. She’s hoping her four weeks of Wiihabilitation will help her to regain some coordination.

“I liked it, but you have to practice,” Hignette, a Long Island native, said. She now bowls once a week as part of her rehabilitation at Potomac Place, where she’s lived since February.

The Wii, the latest generation Nintendo console, features a wand that responds to movement, rather than a traditional controller. For example, in a bowling game, players must mimic the motion used to lob a bowling ball down the alley.

But the Wii is only part of Hignette’s rehabilitation routine. She also works with a bicycle machine; uses light weights and walks.

“This is kind of a break from the typical routine,” 25-year-old occupational therapist Yolunda Smoot of Gainesville, said as she coached Hignette through the motions of Wii bowling. The Wii is set up on a large screen television in the Potomac Place library.

“It’s moreso to take away from the typical arm exercises, to work on balance and standing at the same time. … It’s just a supplement more than anything else,” Smoot said.

Physical therapy assistant and program manager Lori Sealy said 10 Potomac Place residents have used the Wii therapy, but only three are currently on it.

Some of the residents, who have never played video games before have had some success. Rose Nemerow, 86, who is now off the rehabilitation program, really got the hang of it—Wii Sports clocked her fastball at 94 mph.

She came to Potomac Place in July 2006.

“I complained,” Nemerow said. “I don’t walk too good and my shoulders always hurt me. … I had strokes. I had a blood clot on the brain, two-and-a-half years ago. And I have a history of high blood pressure.”

Nemerow, an accomplished musician who played the Kennedy Center, couldn’t play her mandolin because of her medical issues.

“I think you were almost ready to give up on therapy before the Wii came,” Sealy said as Nemerow pitched a 94-mph fastball.

Nemerow, a Czech-born immigrant who worked as a riveter during World War II (making her, literally, “Rosie the Riveter"), has contended with the deaths of some of her family members in recent years, and the Wii helps take her mind off her depression.

“Rose was perfect for it,” Sealy said. “She had tried all the other types of therapy. She was plateauing. … She started getting better results using the Wii.”

Sealy said it’s easier for Nemerow to play Wii bowling than to do 30 reps on a pulley—and she’s even gone back to playing the mandolin.

Sealy added that other therapists are using the Wii as well—for seniors and veterans.

“Really, anyone can use this,” Sealy said. “Any of these sports can be played by my wheelchair residents.”

She also said that Nemerow would like to see a tournament set up at Potomac Place.

“I like it,” Nemerow said. “It’s something I want to do, it’s some-thing I want to improve on.”

The Potomac Place residents are thinking about purchasing a Wii for themselves. Genesis Re-hab, a national rehabilitation service that brings the gaming system to its sessions, owns the one they use. The residents only have use of Genesis Rehab’s one game, Wii Sports, which comes with the console.

Wii Sports includes boxing, golf, tennis, baseball and bowling. Smoot said most of the therapy is done on bowling, or occasionally baseball. But, because of many of the patients’ limited shoulder movement, bowling works best. They haven’t tried boxing yet because of the balance issues involved."A lot of my goals are strengthening of the arm and improving the range of motion,” Smoot said.

The therapy is becoming popular at Potomac Place, said Smoot, because of the social aspect as well.

Takeko Stacy, 78, prefers Wii bowling to the play bowling where they have to wait for someone to pick up the pins. With the Wii, residents don’t have to wait.

“It’s helping my arm,” Stacy said. “I broke my arm three months ago. I started doing this and it healed rapidly.”

“This, and a combination with other things, I would say,” Smoot said.

Staff writer Josh Eiserike can be reached at 703-878-8072 or .