VIRTUAL HULA-HOOPING AND SKI-ING ARE GOOD FOR REINFORCING SENSE OF BALANCE
Published: 30/09/2010
HULA-hooping and ski-ing on a popular computer games console may save elderly people from falling over, scientists said yesterday.
Studies carried out by Aberdeen University and NHS Grampian showed the Nintendo Wii could improve their balance through a series of weekly exercises.
Dr Alison Jenkinson of Aberdeen University, who led the study, said: “The Wii is a lot of fun for older people.
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“If you ask them to lean from side to side 10 times in a row they get bored but if they’re ski-ing down a slope on the screen it makes it much more enjoyable. It has also been shown to improve balance.
“We did this wanting to boost people’s muscle strength, reduce their falls and stop them getting hurt and this gives us a lot of hope.”
Fifteen volunteers from Aberdeen who have fallen at least once in the last 12 months were recruited for the study and took part in 12 weekly sessions at the city’s Woodend Hospital.
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