Wii can't overdo it, says expert

Parents and grandparents are joining the video gaming revolution by trying their luck on the Nintendo Wii console - only to end up needing medical help for over-stretching themselves.

Shropshire chiropractor Dr Simon Pierce said the number of adults suffering back pain due to "over enthusiastic game playing" was on the increase.

Dr Pierce, from The Centre for Positive Health in Wellington, said people over the age of 30 were particularly at risk.

"The new style of game consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, are now increasingly popular, and they involve players taking a more active approach rather than the more traditional style of armchair play.

"But such activities can lead to injuries, and it's important that people understand the risks they are facing.

"The bad news is that the risk of this kind of injury also increases with age, as both your muscle strength and elasticity of your ligaments decreases after the age of about 30 - so if you're taking on your teenage children, beware of your limitations."

He added: "Games consoles can be a valuable addition to the family home, as less time sitting down and more physical activity as part of your daily routine is a great start to a healthier lifestyle. But take care that you don't overdo it."

Several schools and old people's homes are using the Wii - which involves users mirroring the movement of real-life sports and activities - as an alternative method of promoting exercise.

Dr Pierce urged players to realise it was not necessary to use excessive actions, as the handsets were sensitive enough to detect all the movements a player made.

"You should though make sure the room is clear and that people, pets and objects are well out of the way before you start to play. But if you have overdone it in the family games console championships, don't just suffer in silence."

He said possible injuries included a "cricked" neck - a sudden onset of pain in the neck and muscle spasm in the area above the shoulder blade; or even tennis elbow, which comes from overuse.

He said: "The repetitive action of gripping, twisting and moving the wrist when you use the remote handset inflames the tendons attached to the muscles of the forearm which straighten the fingers and the wrist."

Treatment involves reducing the inflammation by using ice and resting the elbow, followed by a rehabilitation programme of power stretching exercises for the elbow and affected muscles.