To say that Wii injuries are an epidemic would be an overstatement, but they are proliferating along with the popular video-game system. Interviews with orthopedists and sports medicine physicians revealed few serious injuries, but rather a phenomenon more closely resembling a spreading national ache: patients of all ages complaining of strains and swelling related to their use -- and overuse -- of the Wii.
Call it Wii Shoulder. Or Wii Knee. If there is an epidemic of anything, it probably falls under a broader label: Nintendinitis.
"Skateboarding, snowboarding, you name it," said Dr. William N. Levine, the director of sports medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. "Take the newest fad, and there's always a slew of specific orthopedic injuries associated with it." The article elaborates on the rise of Wii-related injuries thanks to the rise in the console's popularity, saying that gamers who complain of physical pain tend to report similar issues: either repetitive stress injuries or twists and strains from playing in confined spaces.
The hula hoop has left many a layperson sore.
The moral of the story seems to be the same one that Nintendo advises at the beginning of each Wii game: Give yourself plenty of space to play, and be sure to take a break every once in a while.
Sterling says: Why is this important, you might ask? I'm happy to see that a mainstream publication such as the New York Times is discussing gaming as a physical activity and as something to be enjoyed rather than vilified. It's small news stories like these that help push the idea of gaming as a normal leisure activity. Yes, you already know that, but if it helps our parents and other relatives stop shaking their heads at this activity of ours, then it's good for everyone.Also, I expect another wave of injuries after Wii Sports Resort comes out.
