Balance Training - PhysioFun

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PhysioFun Balance Training is a WiiWare game using the WiiMote and balance board, available for purchase and download direct from the Wii Shopping Channel for 2000 points. The game concerns itself solely with balance and simple exercises relating to balance, mostly on one leg which immediately creates a criteria for successful use - persons/patients using this game must be able to stand on one leg to get the full benefit of balance training.

The main elements of the software are - the Balance Test, Fun Mode and Physio Mode. The balance test requires the user to stand on the balance board for 30, 60 or 90 seconds. During the test the image of a balance board is displayed with a black dot that moves indicating centre of balance. Once the time is up the results are displayed in the form of a graph showing the area of balance board that the COG was during the time, horizontal shift of weight and vertical shift of weight. These results are then comparable to earlier measurements taken. There is no way of extracting the data through the program for printing or recording purposes - a pen and paper is needed for that.

The Fun Mode is a progressive sequence of 6 balance exercises (all of which are on one leg) that gradually gets harder and harder as you work your way up through the 'student belts' (as in martial arts). The Fun Modes 6 exercises are as follows:
Water: Stand on one leg and maintain balance
Desert: Stand on one leg and raise then lower arms
Forest: Stand on one leg and move arms in a circular motion
Eternal Ice: Stand on one leg and move arms forward and backwards in a running motion
Volcano: Stand on one leg and raise arms above head to block
Temple: Stand on one leg and abduct the opposite leg

Points are awarded for how well the exercise is performed, with a small image of the balance board indicating centre of gravity. Circles on the balance board indicate when balance is excellent, good or not good enough. Time outside of the green 'good' section causes low points and eventual premature end to the activity. Being able to maintain COG over the centre dot on the balance board accelerates the points earned to enable a high score to be achieved.

The progression to the exercises is in the early levels an increase in the length of time these exercises have to be performed with other reviews reporting that the levels extend to 90 seconds each.

The Physio Mode also uses the 6 exercises from the Fun Mode but allows individual training schedules to be created. The exercise can be chosen, the leg to balance on, the length of time the activity is for and the difficulty. There does not seem to be a limit to the number of exercises that can be added to the schedule but only 4 individual schedules can be created at any one time. A calender through this option allows sessions to be recorded by date and retrieved at a later time.

One nice feature of the Physio Mode is the Ongoing Measurement option. This consists of an image of the balance board with the black dot showing where COG is and can be used as a prompt or visual feedback during balance work for as long as is needed. It is just a tool with no time limit, scoring or other distracting element. In my option, it is what Wii Fit has been lacking and I envisage it being a useful aspect of this software.

This software is a good attempt at offering therapeutic use of the Wii and balance board. It is aimed at people who what to improve their existing balance, rather than working to establish fundamental and bilateral balance and therefore aimed at higher level persons/patients.

There is definitely a place for this kind of software and its success may support the development of a broader range of activities.

If you have used this software, please comment below.


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Just Dance

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Just Dance is an active game that requires the player to follow a sequence of dance moves during well known songs. The game only requires the use of one Wii Remote in dominant hand.

As the player copies the dance moves points are given to the quality and effort of the movements but depends a little upon how the WiiMote is held in the hand and may take some practice to improve.

Each song is listed with indications of difficult and effort - out of 3 stars. The game also offers the choice of a short or long version of the songs. The short version is advantageous for those with limited stamina and the longer version for those who wish to work on cardiovascular fitness.

The game includes a warm up which is approximately 4 minutes long and is not scored or judged. Its main aim is to encourage gentle warm up exercises before using the main game which requires more effort, in a bid to reduce the risk of muscle injury during game play, but can be used as an opportunity to familiarise with the style of game.

Just Dance is a fun exercise orientated game that can be played by up to 4 people at once. Good range of movement is required in one arm in order to play this game successfully, with some songs being playable from a seated position, although sitting may compromise the final score.

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Petz Sports - Dog playground

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Petz Sports - Dog playground is a simple and basic game where by the player has a pet dog that they can teach tricks to, pet, enter into races and play sports with as well as choose what attire the dog is dressed in.

The controls simply and only use the WiiMote along with its A & B buttons, at times both together but much of the game can be played with just the use of the A button.

There are some nice mini games incorporated in the game, including teaching the dog tricks which is a shape trace game and dog races, requiring co-ordinated combinations of movement and button pressing. Other mini games such as 'petting' 'closet' are less likely to hold any interest within therapy sessions, but might be light relief for younger players.

The game on the whole is easy to use and has multi player included.


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Wii Fit

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Wii Fit generally comes with the Fit Board - a controller with 4 pressure sensors that when the user stands or sits on it the board detects changes in weight transference.
Predominantly lower limb and balance exercise.  The 'game' is geared towards users accessing exercises, stretches, balance games and aerobic activities to improve their fitness, lower BMI and weight and records progress. 
The game has some very useful balance games (Soccer Heading, ski slalom, table tilt), some insightful balance tests, the opportunity to 'see' where centre of gravity is through visual feedback plus much more.

Some of the games in Wii Fit can be played in a sitting position.

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Mountain Sports

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Mountain Sports is a collection of Winter sport games that utilises both the WiiMote and or the Balance board. It has good elements to it with regards to the use of the balance board in a sitting posture for tubing, sledging and bobsleigh. Skiing and Snowboarding use the balance board in a standing position with biathalon and curling best controlled with the WiiMote. The control of the games are sluggish at times which can serve as an advantage and disadvantage making the game more accessible to those with limited movements, without making it too hard. The games controlled by the WiiMote alone can be difficult due to the buttons needed for control.

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SSX Blur

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SSX Blur is a snowboarding simulation game that requires the use of both WiiMote and Nunchuk.  Controls are intuitive and rely on fine movements and dexterity.  Turning/steering is achieved by pro and supination of the wrists, buttons are required for movements and the Nunchuk joystick is used as further method of control.

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Rayman Raving Rabbids 2

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Rayman Raving Rabbids is the second Rayman game released for the Wii.  The game is made up of a broad selection of mini games, the majority of which are already unlocked (you don't have to play the game to get access to them).  The games are short, quirky and fun, mostly requiring simple movements.  The mini games require a mixture of WiiMote and Nunchuk therefore offering the potential to develop a variety of hand function skills at differing levels.  This game is excellent as a distraction during sessions due to simplicity of many of the games and movements required.

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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

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Sonic and Mario Olympic Games is a collection of mini games relating to olympic sports.  Most games can be accessed by just using the WiiMote but they can also be played using the Nunchuk as well.  Most of the games require simple movements but can be considered complex with regards to the use of buttons.  Without the use of buttons the character does nor perform as well and therefore it is very difficult to anywhere other than last in the games.  For those with the cognitive ability to remember controls, coupled with dexterity to press buttons then this game offers the opportunity to work on cardiovascular fitness, sequencing and general control of upper limb(s).

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Links Crossbow

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Links Crossbow is a shooting game relying on aim and co-ordination.  The game does use both the WiiMote and Nunchuk, with the Nunchuk joystick being used to control the direction of the player.  It has a progressive level aspect as well as practice modes making it easy to dip into and find an appropriate level to work at.  Games and tasks can easily be repeated to help with learning and familarity, allowing time to be spent on the development up upper limb control.  This game has been used within therapy sessions, although not regularly.

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Blazing Angels

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Blazing Angels is a flight simulator game that requires complex use of both WiiMote and Nunchuk.  The game is based on a storyline making it difficult to access different levels of the game to suit the user.  The games requires high levels of dexterity, quick reaction speeds and control of movements, along with a good ability to remember the button controls in order to play the game.  This game is rarely used in therapy.

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Shaun White Snowboarding

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Shaun White Snowboarding is a great game to work on both upper and lower limb movement. The game offers the choice between using the Balance board and Wii Remote or just the Wii Remote. The Use of the Wii Remote alone offers opportunities to work on dexterity and hand function, with the controls being to turn the remote in the direction required and press buttons (A and B) to achieve tricks. When using the Balance board it has to be turned through 90 degrees, so at a right angle to the TV. This requires the user to stand sideways (as if on a snowboard) to control the increase/decrease speed by leaning right and left, and left and right by leaning forwards and backwards. Shaun White is a very accessible game for those with just hand function and a great game to work on the higher end of balance when using the Balance board.

This game can be played with adaptations.

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Wii Music

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Wii Music allows the user to create tunes with a large selection of instruments.  The game uses the WiiMote, the WiiMote and Nunchuk and in drum mode the game uses the fit board.  It is a great game to work on upper limb movements, with the games interpreting the movements into music depending upon the instrument selected.  Mini games within the program include handbell game, conductor of an orchestra and a music quiz - all accessible to those with minimal movements.  The fit board, used in drum mode, requires the user to tap their foot/feet to create the effect of using a bass pedal and hithat control.  This is a popular game during therapy sessions.

This game can be played with adaptations.

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Family Ski and We Ski & Snowboard

 

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Family Ski is the first of two snow sport games by Namco.  This first version of the skiing game called Family Ski, offers the chance to explore balance and control of increased weight bearing to left and right during standing.
The second version of the same game - We Ski & Snowboard includes a snowboarding option and off piste skiing with much less restriction as to where you can ski/snowboard.

Both games have the same controls - The controls can be either - use of WiiMote and Nunchuk or use of Fit Board, WiiMote and Nunchuk.  To use the game effectively within therapy sessions the upper limb controls are best carried out by someone other than the person working on their balance - whilst this may sound complex it is quite easy to achieve as the controls generally only needed to get the skier moving. The snowboarding requires the balance board to be rotated through 90 degrees and can make balance difficult for those needing to concentrate.

The ski-ing elements of both of these games can be played in a sitting posture.

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More info - Family Ski

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WarioWare Smooth Moves

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Smooth Moves is a large collection of short mini games that are based around 12 'forms'. The game refers to forms as the way in which the WiiRemote is held.This is a good game with lots of easy, but quick, mini games. The game bases itself on demonstrating and allowing the user to practice the different ways to hold the Wii Remote. The key is to find appropriate games for individual needs within therapy. It is possible to pick and choose which game you play but good knowledge of the game and its mini games is required.

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Cooking Mama

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Cooking Mama is best described as a cooking simulator.  The game is to follow receipe instructions to make dishes from around the world.  The receipes include the preparation and cooking of food with some aspects of presentation. 
It is a fun game that only requires the WiiMote as control.  Buttons are needed at times along with a steady hand to point the controller at the screen.  Many of the movements require reasonable accuracy, fine motor control and dexterity, although there are aspects of the game (accessible through the practice mode) that can be played by those with less control and accuracy as the movements are repeatative and non specific in nature.

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Carnival Games

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Carnival is a collection of fair ground games that most people will be familiar with, using the WiiMote intuitively to play the games.  The majority of the mini games (of which there are 25) require a mixture of actions including throwing, rolling, shaking and pointing.  The games only require the one controller and are very simple to use making it a great game to play whilst working on dexterity and fine or accurate control of upper limb movement.

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