Physiotherapists at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds are among the first in the country to use a Nintendo Wii console with the Wii Fit game and balance board.

Patients like David Crossland can ski down a mountain or head a football during sessions using the machine – even though he has a prosthetic leg.

It can help people who have had a lower leg amputated learn to use their prosthetic limb.
Standing on the pressure sensitive board, it assesses where their centre of gravity is which means they can balance better


And the games are not only fun but are similar to physiotherapy exercises.

Mr Crossland had his lower leg amputated six months ago after problems following an accident when he was a teenager.

The 60-year-old from Roundhay, Leeds, has regular physiotherapy at Seacroft and uses the Wii.

"It's marvellous," he said. It makes sure you have got your balance which is very important when you are learning to walk again.

The Wii gives you confidence in yourself to go out and feel you are not going to fall on the floor, which is a great thing."
Seacroft Hospital League of Friends funded the console after regional prosthetics physiotherapist Lynn Hirst told them how useful it would be, especially for younger patients.

She said: "The most difficult thing for a prosthetic patient is getting their weight through the prosthetic limb.

"With the balance board it shows them where they are taking their
weight through.

"To back that up there's some very lively games which make them take their weight right or left, forward or back, and that improves their core stability and their balance."

She said it had been a hit with patients of all ages.
"It's been absolutely fantastic.

"It's a format that the younger patients know straight away and we've actually had a lady in her 90s who was fascinated by it."