title: Use of Nintendo(®) Wii(™) in Physical Therapy of an Adult with Lower Extremity Burns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this exploratory case study is to describe differences in rehabilitation outcomes for a 47-year-old male with bilateral lower extremity burns when using conventional therapy techniques alone versus such techniques in combination with Nintendo(®) Wii™ (Nintendo of America, Inc., Redmond, WA) videogames.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient received three series of rehabilitation therapy over 2 weeks. During the second series, the Wii was introduced for a portion of the otherwise conventional therapy. Under standardized conditions and upon completion of each series, the Limits of Stability test with a SMART Balance Master(®) (NeuroCom(®), Clackamas, OR) was used to measure reaction time (RT), maximum excursion (MXE), endpoint excursion (EPE), movement velocity, and directional control. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test for functional mobility and a questionnaire assessing level of motivation and interest were administered at the end of each day; these results formed mean scores for each series.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient performed better on RT and MXE during the series that combined conventional therapy with the Wii than during the two series using conventional therapy alone. Improvement on EPE was greater for combined therapy than for conventional therapy alone and continued to improve after combined therapy. The patient completed the TUG test faster during the combined Wii series. Additionally, the patient reported increased motivation and interest levels for the series using combined therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Wii may be a feasible and valuable adjunct to traditional therapy. Improvements during the series with Wii were demonstrated for areas of balance and functional mobility. Trends toward improvement in motivation and interest with the Wii suggest its use may elicit increased patient engagement during burn rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sam K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yohannan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwabe
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sauro
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polistena
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Delia I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Gorga
authors.affiliation: 2 William Randolph Hearst Burn Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Yurt