Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSPaediatric nurses report rise in Wii-related injuries
Paediatric nurses have reported that children and young people are regularly injuring themselves while playing with the Wii gaming console.
Staff at Smithdown Children’s Walk-in Centre in Smithdown have treated a number of children who have suffered injuries as a result of using the Wii.
Veronica Bellis, walk-in centre lead for NHS Liverpool Community Health, said: “Using the Wii games often requires children to use muscles they haven’t previously used, and as a result the child can suffer aches and pains they have never had before.
“One Christmas we treated a number of children with limb pain, mainly in their arms, but with no history of any injury. At first we were baffled, and then we realised – all had been given a Wii for Christmas, and were exercising muscles they never normally used.”
Katie Jones, advanced paediatric nurse said: “Despite the poor press the Wii gaming consoles have received recently, we shouldn’t forget that they have introduced a number of people who might otherwise never bother with exercise, to keep fit.
“As long as people take precautions, there is no reason why they shouldn’t continue to enjoy playing on the Wii.”
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Readers' comments (3)
Mr Al | 22-Feb-2010 5:12 pm
Well I never. I'm dreading the moment when we discover that posting too many comments on Nursing Times is likely to permanently damage my fingers.
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Sharon Nutting | 22-Feb-2010 8:12 pm
What NEXT!!!!
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brasseye | 24-Feb-2010 10:13 am
These children should be grateful for discovering muscles in their bodies that they no doubt only previously used to lift burgers to their mouths or throw stones at pigeons.
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