PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN BE A GAME AT A HOSPITAL IN ORMOND BEACH.

JUST ASK PATIENTS RECOVERING FROM ORTHOPEDIC AND BRAIN INJURIES OR STROKE.

THEY ARE USING A POPULAR VIDEO GAME SYSTEM TO GET BETTER.

CLAIRE METZ HAS THE STORY ON "WII-HABILITATION!

Ty Tomlinson, Physical Therapy Patient said, "When she first uh come to get me to play... She came with a box and I said... You got me a WII."

FINALLY SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT AS 40 YEAR OLD TY TOMLINSON RECOVERS AT FLORIDA HOSPITAL OCEANSIDE FROM A 20 FOOT FALL OFF A
LADDER. WITH A SHATTERED HEEL, A BROKEN WRIST, BROKEN BONES IN THE ARM, THE CABLE COMPANY WORKER AT LEAST GETS TO PLAY WII GAMES
FOR CHRISTMAS.

"Helps strengthen, gives me balance... On the good parts I have..."

DOCTORS DONATED THE WII SYSTEM TO THE HOSPITAL REHAB FLOOR BECAUSE THE GAMES REQUIRE BODY MOVEMENTS THAT MIRROR TRADITIONAL THERAPY EXERCISES.

Mandy Scrubbs, Physical Therapist said, "If, you know, we have orthopedic patients it can help with strength, endurance, things like that... If we have a neurological patient it helps with motor planning and coordination, balance... so it really helps all areas of rehab"

The key to Wii is how engrossing the games are... Patients may not notice how much pain they are in or how hard they're working because they're involved with the games. And having fun at the same time.

TY'S FAMILY, PARTICULARLY THE KIDS, GET A KICK OUT OF WATCHING DAD GET BETTER BY PLAYING VIDEO TENNIS... BUT TY SAYS IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS HE LOOKS FORWARD TO...

“It’s cool because the rest of the rehab is pretty tough, painful, you know you got to get up and the blood flow to my leg is painful..."

WII GIVES PLEASURE AND THERAPISTS SAY BENEFICIAL REHAB AT THE SAME TIME.