recommending the Wii | Arthritis Information

 

The Wii with the balance board is something I think many RA people could benefit from. I took up golf just three years ago and have been diagnosed with RA for a year and a half. Of course there were a lot of issues trying to play golf as it's a game of timing and balance. Last summer was a bit of a nightmare for me as my condition was worsening.

I got the Wii Fit video game, and started using the virtual golf practice range a lot. The board tells you when your stance is balanced and when it's not. The feedback was immensely helpful to me, and when I went to Florida last week to play for the first time since October I did amazingly well. For me!

There are a number of balance games in the Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus that would be helpful to many people. They have yoga, boxing, step exercise and many other activities. It's not an inexpensive system, but I decided that if it helped my golf game I was going to recommend it to you folks. It did, and I am.I've been saving up to get one when I buy my new tv set...which will be in the next week or so....I'm looking forward to trying it

we have Wii.. having a 14 year old in our house.. [QUOTE=Bluehour]The Wii with the balance board is something I think many RA people could benefit from. I took up golf just three years ago and have been diagnosed with RA for a year and a half. Of course there were a lot of issues trying to play golf as it's a game of timing and balance. Last summer was a bit of a nightmare for me as my condition was worsening.

I got the Wii Fit video game, and started using the virtual golf practice range a lot. The board tells you when your stance is balanced and when it's not. The feedback was immensely helpful to me, and when I went to Florida last week to play for the first time since October I did amazingly well. For me!

There are a number of balance games in the Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus that would be helpful to many people. They have yoga, boxing, step exercise and many other activities. It's not an inexpensive system, but I decided that if it helped my golf game I was going to recommend it to you folks. It did, and I am.[/QUOTE] Hi we have Wii fit etc and just to see my 9 y.olds face when Mum can play with him is priceless, it is too much fun and when I get tired/unable to play due to pain issues, I score for them or just support them from the sidelines, a great invention and a great motivator for lazy kids too!  Do yourselves a favour and try it!  Janie.  Good deal! My ex sent our son's gaming station out here so we use it from time to time as well. I tried my hand at Guitar Hero (thank goodness that thing has a strap!) I wasn't very good though because my hands/wrists ache, but I gave it 100% effort! ;)   I'm able to bowl a great game from the sofa! heheMy mother, 89, still lives on her own. She's been taking hula classes for a year at the senior center, for her circulation and brain. But, lately, she skips going some weeks so is probably losing interest as it's always the same thing. So, for Christmas, my sister bought a Wii for her and both sets of granddaughters got her the Fitness program. She loves it! She says she does the balance "games" daily. After getting the hang of all the fitness activities, she explored the sports that just came with the basic equip and says she's pretty good at tennis! Of course, the Wii is very benefitial for the brain too.

 

So, now I'm thinking of getting one. If an 89yr old enjoys it so much and can do it all by herself, I can do it.  I just got my retroactive check from SSDisability 2 days ago. It's mostly going for moving expenses like 1st mo rent, deposits, storage so I can sort more slowly. Then my modest monthly checks will be used exclusively for rent. So, this may be the only chance I have to buy something that expensive... and good for me. 

 

Some of these activities can be like physical therapy, which I had to stop due to copay costs. I have therabands and pilates ball and was going to get a yoga or tai-chi DVD, but the Wii offers so many choices and keeps track of one's efforts.

 

Since my husband mentioned he'd like it too, I may surprise him with it as a gift for us both for Valentine's Day! We've been unable to give gifts (even for my 60th Bday) so he'll be floored! It'll give us an indoor activity to do together that's good for us and fun. He admires my quilting and I love to hear him on piano, but since I can't go on walks or bike rides like before RA, we stay home and although side by side, mostly quietly read and watch tv.  Well, except our little funny puppy has livened up our lives a whole lot!

 

Thanks for the reminder. Mom lives 1+1/2 hrs away so I haven't been there to see her play on her Wii since our joint family Christmas party when she was given it. She doesn't talk about it every time we talk on phone so I forget about it.  I'm glad you brought it up.  

 

 

All the games are great, and in my opinion the variety available helps a lot to keep a person active but not bored. The balance board is a must though it's more expensive. When I got on that thing and thought I was standing normally, and saw how far to the right I was - I was amazed. Apparently when you favor one leg, you put all your weight on the other one and think that you're balanced. A real eye opener. And just try walking the tightrope!
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