Sources: Laurie 1xbet online games login , lhilde@1xbet online games login edu;
and Shawna Jordan, 785-532-0151, jordan@1xbet online games login edu
Photo available. Contact media@1xbet online games login edu or 785-532-2535.
News release prepared by: Kristin Hodges, 785-532-2535, khodges2@1xbet online games login edu

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

K-STATE RESEARCHERS USE WII FIT TO HELP RESTORE SOLDIER'S 1xbet online games login AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University researchers have found that Nintendo's Wii Fit helped improve 1xbet online games login for a soldier with a traumatic brain injury, a problem many soldiers are facing after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Shawna Jordan, research assistant professor in human nutrition, and Laurie 1xbet online games login , May graduate in athletic training and pre-physical therapy and 2006 graduate of St. John High School, are studying the effectiveness of Nintendo Wii in rehabilitation. Their results showed positive improvements in 1xbet online games login and user satisfaction for an individual undergoing neurological therapy.

&1xbet online games login ;Wii has been out for a few years and has been used in settings like hospitals, nursing homes and clinics for all types of rehab, but there's not a lot of published research that shows that it's effective,&1xbet online games login ; Hildebrand said.

The researchers started the case study in March with a soldier who had been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. He had gone through some traditional physical therapy before the study and followed up with the virtual reality 1xbet online games login work.

&1xbet online games login ;Traumatic brain injuries are a big concern for soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts right now,&1xbet online games login ; Hildebrand said. &1xbet online games login ;These injuries often go undiagnosed, and we're not really sure how many soldiers have them.&1xbet online games login ;

She said traumatic brain injuries have many symptoms, including memory loss and changes in behavior and cognitive function. The researchers specifically focused on the physical aspect of restoring 1xbet online games login . They used Nintendo's Wii Fit 1xbet online games login board and games, including the 1xbet online games login , yoga and strength training activities.

Baseline measurements of 1xbet online games login were initially taken of the individual. The study followed with five training sessions of 30 minutes each where the participant played different Wii Fit games. The study showed that the soldier had positive improvements in his 1xbet online games login and had few errors related to 1xbet online games login in the Wii Fit activities. The participant also reported liking the rehabilitation process itself because it was interactive and showed his progress through the training.

&1xbet online games login ;Any time you can change rehabilitation processes and make them more interesting for the patient is great, especially with brain injuries, since neurological rehabilitation is a longer process,&1xbet online games login ; Hildebrand said.

The 1xbet online games login is different from other virtual reality technologies used in rehabilitations, Hildebrand said. Its advantages include that it's cheaper, easily accessible and easy to use. Possible follow-up research includes the effects of 1xbet online games login on rehabilitation for other conditions, including injuries like ankle sprains and knee injuries.

1xbet online games login is studying athletic training and said the study is similar to rehabilitating football players who have suffered concussions, which are a mild traumatic brain injury. She presented the project in a poster at K-State's University Honors Program Convocation April 27.

1xbet online games login , who will study physical therapy at the University of Kansas School of Allied Health, said the project was her first research experience.

&1xbet online games login ;Before this project, I never thought about research,&1xbet online games login ; she said. &1xbet online games login ;I found out I really enjoyed it. I know as part of the requirements to finish physical therapy school there has to be a research project. This gave me experience that I might be able to use later on in that research.&1xbet online games login ;