May 10, 2010

Columbia – At Boone Hospital Center’s outpatient physical therapy center, video games are moving out of the realm of entertainment to become a vital testing and training tool for patients.

Physical and occupational therapists at Boone Therapy use specialized video game devices to help patients suffering from loss of bladder control, loss of balance and other physical problems.

With one training device aimed at helping women regain bladder control, patients actually interact with a video game using their pelvic muscles. When the correct muscle is flexed the desired amount, the effort is rewarded by video feedback such as a dolphin leaping from the water, or a spaceship docking with a space station.

“While it sounds simple, patients respond to this kind of video feedback,” said Tracy Evers, Boone Therapy manager. “These devices really are helpful when it comes to training patients how to do the exercises that will help them recover.”

Another important tool at Boone Therapy is the center’s high-tech balance machine. The shower stall-sized device puts patients through a series of balance tests — some of which include movement-controlled video games — to help therapists pinpoint what is causing the balance deficiency. The results from the balance machine help therapists design an exercise plan to help patients regain a steady footing.

“Using video games makes therapy more fun and exciting for our patients,” Evers said. “In addition, the precise information they provide to our therapists really makes a difference when we are designing our plan for therapy.”

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