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Fitness

Can the Nintendo WiiFit Rehab Your Injuries? Science Says Yes!

Some of you may have experienced some high-tech ways of detecting and rehabbing muscular imbalances – but what about the Nintendo WiiFit? Science says it can do the trick.

Becca Borawski

Written by Becca Borawski Last updated on January 18, 2012

It is inevitable over the life of an athlete that injuries will be incurred. From injuries imbalances can develop, as we favor a weak leg while building our strength back up. These imbalances are known in the medical world as weight-bearing asymmetry (WBA).

When an athlete has WBA there is an increased likelihood of reinjury and a decrease in overall performance potential. These effects of imbalance are magnified by the fact the majority of athletes are unable to detect the lack of symmetry on their own.

Some of you may have experienced some high-tech ways of detecting and rehabbing muscular imbalances – but what about the Nintendo WiiFit? One of the components of the WiiFit is the Wii Balance Board, which is similar to force platforms used by research laboratories and includes the visual feedback of the computer screen.

In a recent study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research scientists examined using the Wii Balance Board as a method of improving weight-bearing asymmetry in both trained (athletes) and untrained individuals.

In the study, participants were tested on two different occasions with the Wii Balance Board – one time with visual feedback and one time without. They performed six squats, taking six seconds to perform each repetition. Participants stood on two Wii Balance Boards, one under each foot. In the sessions with visual feedback, custom software was used to display the weight distributions in real time on the computer screen in front of the participant so they could adjust their movement accordingly.

While reductions in WBA were observed in both the trained and untrained participants, the improvements in the athlete group were statistically insignificant. The degree of WBA had been lower to begin with in that group, so there was also less space for improvement. In the non-athlete group, however, significant improvements in WBA were measured.

For doctors these results means untrained patients with WBA could make major improvements in their condition through the use of visual feedback while performing rehab exercises. The Wii Balance Boards offer an inexpensive and portable way for doctors to apply this practice, whereas previously this technology was only available in research laboratories.

Becca Borawski

About Becca Borawski

Becca found her way to a career in health and fitness through Martial Arts and CrossFit. Originally a music editor for film and television, Becca started studying Martial Arts in 2000. Though she started with traditional Martial Arts it was not long before she discovered Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and her path was forever altered. She began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Muay Thai and started working with professional MMA fighters, building websites, working on fight promotions, and producing videos.

As a competitor in BJJ herself, Becca wanted to get stronger and fitter. In 2006 she discovered CrossFit and became a student at CrossFit Los Angeles. In only a couple of years she became CrossFit Level III Certified, left her career in the film industry, and dedicated herself full time to coaching. She has since been certified through CrossFit in Olympic Lifting, Powerlifting, Nutrition, Endurance and Kids coaching. She also held an NSCA-CSCS from 2006-2008 and is a certified IndoRow instructor. In addition to coaching adults, she founded the CrossFit LA Kids program in 2010 and taught children aged 5-17.

Becca regularly takes on new sports, which have included indoor rowing, fencing, and most recently, cycling, as she believes it makes her both a better athlete and a better coach. In order to reach more people with her coaching, Becca also created ModernAthena.com – a website dedicated to women in pursuit of physical fitness and self-improvement.

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