In September, we reported how Nintendo Wii was the latest attraction for the residents of Sunrise of Edgbaston, a retirement home in Birmingham.

Now, Reuters has a new story about the medical uses of the little gaming console.

Rehabilitation patients at Ohio State University Medical Center are golfing and bowling their way back to health – without ever leaving the hospital – through therapists’ innovative use of a video game system to supplement their prescribed exercises.

Robbie Winget, an occupational therapist who oversees use of the Wii at Dodd Hall, said news that a rehab hospital in Alberta, Canada, was using the popular new video game system sparked the idea.

“The games can be more motivating than standard exercises,” said Robbie Winget. “But this does not replace conventional therapy at all. It’s one more way to meet specific goals associated with therapy.”

According to Winget, the patients who are using Wii in their therapy are those recovering rom strokes, spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries.

The patients are working with Nintendo Wii about 30 minutes per day, in two or three sessions per week and the games played include golf, bowling, tennis and baseball.

Also, Todd Blind, a rehabilitation team leader at Dodd Hall said that it won’t be surprising to see Wii used more and more frequently in rehabilitation programs.