GOAL!!! - Hospital scores with interactive therapy

By BRAD DICKERSON
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW August 05, 2008 11:54 am

— Emily Heuser is playing goalie against a virtual opponent.
With an infrared sensor strapped around her waist, the T.J. Samson Rehab and Sports Medicine employee bounces back and forth to make sure she is in front of the ball the other player is trying to toss in her direction.
Of course, since this is a virtual reality game called Goalie Wars, there is no actual soccer ball coming in Heuser’s direction.
Instead, the interactive software, called Trazer, helps the user become better at developing reaction time, acceleration, speed, power and balance.
“It’s not some boring workout,” Heuser said.
John Vaughn, coordinator of the Rehab and Sports Medicine Center, said the Trazer system has recently begun to be mass-marketed to physical therapists, sports clinics and professional sports teams.
The Glasgow facility is one of those that has invested in the software.
“You can really work up a good cardio workout,” Vaughn said.
He added that the Nintendo Wii Fit is another interactive virtual program that can benefit those in athletics, as well as those in the age range between preteen and early 30s.
“It’s a great balance training mechanism,” Vaughn said. “It really uses a lot of visual stuff too. You’ve got to rely on balance and the visual stuff really throws you off.”
Since video games have long been blamed for the physical inactivity of America’s youth, Vaughn believes the companies are beginning to see a need to develop something to “get kids moving again.”
“If you can get them playing a game, where they don’t know they’re exercising, they tend to do a lot better,” he said. “They tend to get into the game and the competitiveness of the game.”
Goalie Wars is one such game that has proven to be a popular choice.
“Kids love this one,” Vaughn said.

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