I found this story at KFMB in San Diego. You can also watch the video.
Video games are generally reserved for grandkids, not grandparents. But not anymore - a nursing home in Escondido is using the Nintendo Wii game system to rehabilitate its patients. It's called "Wii-hab" and it's changing lives.
Shirley Fisher is getting magical results with the wave of her hand. At 73 years old, Shirley is Wii-habbing her hip.
"Oh this is very cute… it's nice," she said.
On the screen, a younger video game version of Shirley struts her stuff. But in real life, Shirley is pitching away the pain. And it's not just baseball. Therapists are using bowling, and even tennis to motivate patients.
"First they just kind of 'I don't want to do that', well, let's try it and pretty soon after three or four treatments they ask us when can we do this," Gene Craven of Life Care of Escondido said.
It's 79-year-old Alejandro Gallegos' turn to take the mound. Up and out of a wheelchair, Alejandro is recovering from a lower leg amputation.
"Alejandro had a hard time. He wasn't too happy about things. He stayed in his room, now he comes out more and every time he sees it he just lights up," occupational therapist Rachel Solis-Hoover said.
Wii is working to help Alejandro grow stronger one Fountain of Youth fastball at a time.
"It's like when he was young. He feels strong, he feels good," Solis-Hoover said.
We want to wish Alejandro a happy birthday today and wish him well as he works his way towards a prosthetic leg.
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