Video games aren’t just fun for kids anymore. In fact, their mental and physical benefits make them an ideal activity for rehabilitation program participants of all ages. For example, when stroke or brain injury survivors play a regular round of their favorite video game, they exercise their brains, keep the muscles in their upper bodies mobile, and stay engaged in an enjoyable hobby. Family-owned and -operated Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center in Wolcott, CT, recommends technology-infused programs like video game play because it allows for gentle activity that boosts blood flow to the brain and gets seniors active.

3 Ways Video Games Are Useful for Rehabilitation Programs

1. Builds Physical Strength

To operate a video game, players must use their hands, fingers, and arm muscles in quick succession for an extended period of time. While the player focuses on the task at hand, their frequent upper body movement keeps their limbs as active as their minds. Physical therapists find that it’s a great way to encourage activity without pushing too much gym time.

2. Improves Mental Dexterity

Video games also require memory and recall skills. From simple puzzle apps on an iPad to action-packed role-playing on the computer or Xbox, users must stay focused and engage in repetitive activity to achieve their wins. As a bonus, video games also ease boredom and frustration. 

3. Provides Real-Time Feedback

One of the most notable but undervalued benefits of video games for rehabilitation programs is the ability for physical therapists, physicians, and families to gather real-time data about a patient’s physical and mental progress. Since video games capture a variety of helpful benchmarks like score, speed, dexterity, and goal achievement, care teams can add video game data to their evaluation of the success of a rehabilitation plan while allowing the patient to have fun in the process.

Rehab centers can be designed to allow patients to not only improve, but to thrive. For a rehabilitation program that attends to all facets of health, call Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center at (203) 879-8066. To explore their nursing facility's physical and occupational therapy programs in detail, visit their website.