CHESTER, England, Jan 22, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- British medical workers say
Nintendo's motion-oriented Wii video game system is to blame for thousands of
minor injuries.
The console, which allows players to mimic the movements of games and sports
including golf, tennis and boxing with a hand-held motion sensor, has caused
minor accidents and injuries that have been labeled "Nintendo Wii syndrome," The
Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.
Osteopaths have said middle aged parents roped into playing the games with their
children are especially susceptible to neck, shoulder and elbow problems that
can result from playing for extended periods of time.
"We noticed we were getting a number of middle-aged parents coming in having
played for far too long on the Nintendo Wii that they had bought their
children," said Martin Davies, who runs five osteopathic clinics in Cheshire
county.
However, he said the gaming console has also been found to have some medical
benefits.
"But it is not all bad," Davies said, "One parent reported that his son had lost
a stone in weight (14 pounds) since getting a Wii for his birthday."
Davies said injuries can be avoided by closely following the manufacturer's
guidelines for use.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International