Wii Fit Guide for Seniors and Older Adults

Wii games offers seniors enjoyable physical activity plus help to maintain cognitive skills and social activity. All in the safety and comfort of their own homes. With more than 60 activities, including gentle aerobics, easy movements, basic yoga poses and many balance exercises, Wii Fit Plus offers low impact exercises which are suitable for seniors. Other popular Wii games for older adults include Wii Sports (with bowling, golf, and more) and quiz and trivia games such as Wheel of Fortune and Big Brain Academy.

Benefits

• Exercise That's Appropriate for Anybody: The idea of fitness can be daunting, especially when the danger of injury is very real. The Wii has the games and accessories to keep you active in a safe, controlled environment, and you'll actually have fun doing it. Take a small step up onto your Wii Balance Board and take part in a simple balance exercise or a relaxing yoga pose.
• Keep your Brain Healthy: There are plenty of activities on Wii Fit Plus and games such as Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree that will keep your mind sharp and focused.
• Fun and Accessible: Anyone, no matter your age or level of activity, will find a fun, easy-to-use experience on the Wii console with Wii Fit Plus. And having fun exercising will help you to stick with it long term.

  Wii Fit is well suited for those just starting to exercise or those who are already active. It can be used as a primary fitness program or to supplement your existing workout program.

• Comfort, Privacy and Value: There are no monthly fees to use your Wii, so you will save over the gym. And you'll get to enjoy a fun workout program in the comfort and privacy of your own home. You can exercise when it is convenient and never have to worry about the weather.
• Play with the Family: The family-friendly multiplayer games on Wii Fit and Wii Sports will promote interaction and togetherness for the whole family and extended family. It offers quality time with the family and grandkids and can help strengthen social connections.
• Anyone and Everyone: Even if the family and friends living around you are different in age, there's a fitness experience that will fit everyone's tastes and skill levels.

No matter your experience level, stay healthy

According to a report by the American Heart Association in 2007¹, adults aged 65+ or adults from 50-64 with chronic conditions that limit fitness should try to exercise 30 minutes a day for 5 days each week in order to maintain and improve health. Wii Fit Plus gives older people the opportunity to get that exercise in a safe environment that reduces injury. Wii Fit can increase muscle tone, and aid hearts and lungs.

Maintain your mind with your body

Players can walk in place on the Balance Board as they explore an engaging world that stimulates their mind as well as their activity level, with plenty of interesting surroundings to pay attention to. There are also games with simple logic and math-based activities that anyone can do, and will help enrich their minds while they increase their fitness levels. Those 30 minutes each day will fly by.

Connect socially with those around you

With up to 8 players able to participate in the Wii Fit Plus multi-player mode, the whole family can enjoy the gaming experience together. The Wii game library goes beyond just fitness, so there's guaranteed to be a genre of game that will help keep elderly players connected with those around them. You'll always have something fun to do when the grandkids come to visit.

Extremely easy and accessible

It takes just a few minutes to set up the Wii console with 4 easy steps. Plus WiiShopExpress offers an online step-by-step video that will walk you through it. And it's just as simple to navigate and start Wii Fit Plus. The motion controls are intuitive and mimic natural motions you would make during a given activity. This easy and accessible control structure will help you perform low impact exercises and activities, including aerobics, cardio, muscle toning and strenghtening, yoga and balance.

Work out with disabilities or chronic conditions

According to an article on LiveStrong.com², Wii Fit Plus is a great resource and a legitimate form of exercise for people with chronic conditions or limited mobility including arthritis, diabetis. You can customize a workout routine that will mold itself to what you're actually able to perform. In addition Wii Fit Plus can help for people with pulmonary conditions, stroke recovery, and physical rehabilitation.

In fact, a study by Bucknell University³ found that Wii Fit can build better balance in older adults, which can increase fitness levels while prevent injuries from falls. Many assisted living facilities across the United States have Nintendo Wii consoles, and promote the simple activities that can improve your life.

Go beyond fitness

The Wii console can be used for much more than just fitness. Elderly players can play sports such as tennis and bowling on Wii Sports, go out fishing on Sega Bass Fishing, or drive a go kart around the track in Mario Kart Wii. The console also features puzzle and brain games, and more than 200 family-appropriate games that are perfect for sharing with the grandkids.

Save time and money

One of the biggest benefits to fitness on the Wii is the value and convenience. A Wii console is a one-time fee, so there aren't any monthly gym membership dues or any fees to personal trainers, saving you money. And since the Wii is plugged into your television, you can enjoy the benefits of fitness and fun in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

How to get started

All that's needed to get started with a Wii fitness program is a Nintendo Wii console, a fitness game such as Wii Fit Plus, and potentially a Wii Balance Board, depending on the game's requirements.