Game Consoles for Seniors: a Fun Way to Stay Fit | Rescue Alert of CA

When the Nintendo Wii first came out in November 2006, the game console was a huge hit?in fact, it continues to sell well almost six years after its first launch. And for a good reason?it gave people who are usually not into video games (such as seniors) to get in the zone. As the game console is controlled through physical movement and bodily motion (made possible by its special motion controller, the Nunchuck), people who play games on the console have the benefit of a mild cardio workout. This very benefit, unsurprisingly, hit it big with an originally unintended market: senior citizens.

Sports and Fitness Games

Before the Nintendo Wii came out, people who played games (mostly those who were among the younger set) were limited to the usual joystick or handheld controllers that involved very little physical movement. From Pong to Pacman to the first Playstation, the game play was essentially the same: you?re sitting (some players even upped the slacker ante by using really comfortable beanie bags while playing their favorite games) while playing, and most people eventually developed certain medical conditions arising from repetitive and limited action.

With Nintendo Wii, for the first time, a video game console seemed to have unwittingly opened up a new previously neglected market: the seniors. Soon after the Wii?s release in 2006, the game console became a surprise hit in retirement homes throughout the USA. Quick to respond to the new demand, Nintendo subsequently launched a marketing campaign directly targeting seniors and retirees, which further ensured the game console?s popularity and success with the older set. And the first ever Wii game that immediately enthralled seniors? Bowling.

Virtual bowling, which is just part of the Wii Sports package, motivated seniors to get up and out of their chairs and exert some physical effort. The virtual bowling game is safe enough to play by seniors as it does not require any vigorous or sudden movements. After all, say the Wii?s designers, the console was designed with careful emphasis on gentle motion, physical balance and coordination, and essentially mild physical activity. However, such mild activity can already have a huge impact on the health of seniors, whether they are in retirement homes or living in their own homes. Moreover, engaging in virtual bowling tournaments with the game console means seniors do not have to worry about accidentally injuring their back while or joints while trying to throw what would otherwise be a heavy bowling ball. The same goes with the console?s virtual tennis, which gives pairs who may no longer be able to play the real-world version of tennis the opportunity to still enjoy the game without unnecessarily exposing them to certain health risks.

Benefits of Mild Activity

For seniors, even mild activity can have a significant positive impact on health. Doctors assert (relying on data from countless studies) that engaging in regular mild activity provides protection from aging as it strengthens the bones and joints, while also reducing aging in the brain on the cellular level. In that context, even 30 minutes of Wii Golf or Virtual Bowling can have a lasting health impact.

Overall, a game console such as the Nintendo Wii offers seniors the otherwise rare opportunity of taking part in something they can find truly fun. In the context of retirement homes, for example, even seniors with limited mobility can interact with one another in a game of virtual bowling. The social and emotional benefits are significant, which can also have a palpable effect on their health.

Current options

Currently, the Nintendo Wii is no longer the only video game console that offers motion control. The Sony Playstation 3 now has its Move, and the Xbox 360 has its Kinect?these are motion controllers and receivers that enable players to do the same thing they did with the Nintendo Wii, which is control the game using specific body movements. The advantage of these more advanced game consoles is the wider array of available games, the better graphics, and online multiplayer support. Players of the Sony PS3 with Move, for example, can have a free access to Sony?s Playstation Network (PSN), which then means seniors can enjoy enhanced social functionalities that allow them to play with their buddies online even when they are alone at home.

Tags:senior activities, senior activity, senior fun, senior health

Source: http://rescuealertofca.com/game-consoles-for-seniors-a-fun-way-to-stay-fit

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