June of this year, the semi-professional tennis player, Jerry Pope, suffered a stroke. However, during his rehabilitation, he refused to do the repetitive, boring exercises. His doctor had heard about another patient who was using the Wii to help recover from a stroke, and he thought it was a brilliant idea. Pope went into Wiihab by playing Tennis (from Wii Sports) several times a week. It was one of the first steps to helping him from recovery.

The Wii seems to be able to help a bunch of different kind of patients, and soon to even help people lose weight (Wii fit). What will be the next amazing thing that the Wii can do?

The 77-year-old semipro tennis player suffered a debilitating stroke in June and is using a hot new video game system to help him get back onto the real court. He's one of several patients using the Nintendo Wii as part of an innovative program at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Minneapolis' Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Pope actually goes to Sister Kenny to work with the Wii as part of his thrice-weekly, hourlong occupational therapy sessions, which emphasize upper-body work. By using the Wii, he works on regaining dexterity by pressing the controller's buttons and on keeping his balance by swinging his arm without falling down. (He also spends an hour each visit on physical therapy, which involves other exercises.)

Sakura via startribune.com »