videos games and physiotherapy

brigitte

New member
Dear Sir, Madam,

I am writting you from Belgium.

To relieve one of the worries of the young patients struck by cystic fibrosis, namely to have fun during their physiotherapy instead of grumbling, it would be opportune to offer them an alternative.

Nowadays ? videos games ? make rage, so why not create a scenario for them where they could use their breathing exercises to pilot a video game.

If I put myself in the search for such a program, it is because I am the mother of a child suffering of cystic fibrosis and I?m trying to ameliorate his comfort of life.

I have contacted some ?games designers ? which have also shown a great interest in this project.

Would you be interested in answering ? I am? as a sponsor ? Or could you share any remarks or suggestions ?

I look forwards to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Brigitte Bouzin
Sorry for my bad English

Here are my particulars
Strombeeklinde, 100
B-1853 Strombeek-Bever
Belgium



<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
 

JazzysMom

New member
The idea is good. My initial & think only concern would be this. I know my daughter has gotten frustrated when she cant master a certain task or level on a game that has nothing to do with breathing. For those of you with CF kids do you think that if one is having difficulty breathing that their tolerance level of not doing as well on the game would jeopardize the overal benefit of being distracted during treatments. Did that make sense? Maybe the games would have different levels of difficulty as many games do based on the lung functions? Am I understanding the whole concept correctly?
 

miesl

New member
I see one major flaw with this.

Jeremy won't play video games during his vest therapies. The vibration of the vest keeps him from being able to properly control the game. The fine motor control required for most fun games just isn't there when you're shaking.

About the only games that are playable during VESTs are real-time-strategies (Civ3 for example) - which I doubt would interest the younger group of people.
 

JazzysMom

New member
I never thought about that aspect. Of course in order for such games to work that factor & the different lung functions would have to be taken into consideration for it to be worthwhile. Then of course, for me, the question arises......is there a large enough population to utilize such games to make the development &/or experiment &/or sales worthwhile...............
 

Lilith

New member
Like Melissa said, I doubt there's a high enough demand for such a game that the company could make a profit from it. And if the company can't profit, they won't make the game. Plus too, I can't speak for everyone else, but even while I'm playing video games during my therapy (I don't do the VEST, so the shaking isn't an issue for me), I enjoy the distraction. I'm not thinking of it as another chore I have to do to keep myself healthy while I'm swinging a sword around on the TV. For me, having to use the therapy as a means of beating the game doesn't sound fun, but more like a reminder that I'm strapped to a machine. Does that make sense?

Anyway, all in all, even if they made such a product, I don't think I would buy it. Just my opinion. It's a nice idea, but I don't think it would fly very well...
 

anonymous

New member
i think my son would be interested r u talking about something like pts in the hospital setting? cuz my son loves that!!! I also beg to differ from the post before my son is 8 years old and can play ANY ps2 game expertly even while doing his vest treatments. He colud even play tipped upside down and he can play with the cotroller up by his mouth holding a mask.
 

anonymous

New member
If it is a game controlled by breathing, to help build lung strength, then maybe others beside CFers would benefit, ie asthmatics. I'm getting the idea that the breathing would be through some kind of flutter or acapella device to help clear mucus.
 
6

65rosessamurai

Guest
BTW, I've seen some games in Japan that may be out in the U.S., a dance game, where you stand on a "carpet" or something that may look like a twister game. The point is, despite it using the respiratory system as a "remote control unit", the excercise requires a certain amount of cardiovascular excercise.

Another thought, I have no Idea what is referred to as a "vest", but if it is in any way computerized, it would easily be able to be interfaced with a computer, or a computer game.
 

letsrockcfem

New member
The idea sounds really fun! Let me tell you guys what I've been doing while in the hospital for a tune up. I came in about 2 1/2 weeks ago and everyday I get CPT 4 times and Mon-Fri I have recreational therapy. During RecTherapy (45 minutes) we play PS2 BUT..we can only play games that allow us to exercise. It could be Dance Dance Revolution which is one of my favorites...all of my bandmates have made it over to DDR with me..trust me even they needed water. There are also tons of other great games that we use the EyeToy for..this puts you on the screen and you are part of the game. We put weights on my arms to make the games harder. There is a boxing game, chef game and other sweet games.
I'm thinking I really need the DDR for my PS2 and the other games rock too. So with CPT 4 times a day, Rec therapy for 45 minute 5 times a week and Physical Therapy 3 times a week, I'm staying in pretty good shape up here.
I would check in with your hospitals when you or your kids are in for tune ups and see what they have to offer. I know all of us CF'ers up here have RT..last week there were 8 of us..they do a good job of washing the weights and anything we touch too.
If you or your kids love video games, I would definately invest in these games to get them active and to strengthen their lungs too...
Hope this helps,
em
 
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