But does it aid balance? Ongoing research into the benefits of the Wii Fit suggests that the game improves a number of fitness measures, including balance.
“My research focuses on balance and older adults and developing ways to decrease the number of falls in older adults,” Katie Bieryla, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Bucknell University, told the Post in the Nov/Dec 2010 article Balancing Act. “Last summer, I conducted a small study to train older adults on the Wii Fit with the intention of improving clinical measures of balance. After three weeks of training, we saw improvements in that area.”

Bieryla’s short study focused on participants—ranging in age from 75 to 92—from a local nursing home, who performed the Wii Fit training for 30 minutes, three times a week. They tried different yoga poses, as well as the soccer and ski jump games to add an element of fun to the training sessions.
While unable to pinpoint which activity improved their balance, Bieryla noted that “they definitely had fun with the game.”

Being engaged with an exercise activity is certainly an important reason for adults of all ages to consider gaming as an option.
“The Wii Fit is an easy way for older adults to have fun, get involved, and improve measures of balance,” says Bieryla. “This is just one inexpensive and fun way that we could improve some balance measures, which in turn may help improve or lower the incidence of falls.”

Our thanks to Kathleen Bieryla and to Bucknell University for providing the following video on the use of Wii Fit in strengthening core muscles and improving balance.

Wii Fit: Balancing Acts The Saturday Evening Post