Do people with intellectual disability use Nintendo Wii when placed in their home as part of a physiotherapy program? An observational study

Abstract

Purpose: To examine how much, and in what way, Nintendo WiI (Wii) is used when prescribed as part of a home-physiotherapy program for people with intellectual disability. Methods: Twenty people with intellectual disability were recruited. The following parameters were recorded about play patterns over a 12-week period: frequency, duration, perceived exertion, play position, play mode, initiation of play and games from Wii Sports and Wii Fit Plus. Results: Participants used the Wii for a median of 101 min per week (interquartile range [IQR]: 50-172) in weeks one and two across a median of three days per week (IQR: 3-4), decreasing down to a median of 35 min per week (IQR: 0-141) in weeks 11 and 12 across a median of one day per week (IQR: 0-3). Conclusions: Usage of the Wii drops off rapidly when it is placed in the homes of people with intellectual disability as part of a physiotherapy program.