A new report says playing card games can help stroke patients recover just as much as virtual reality games. Researchers conducted tests on 141 patients to determine whether gaming or traditional games was better at treating strokes. They found that playing cards, games like dominoes, and even throwing paper balls into a basket improved patients' motor skills. Playing bingo or using a Wii games console also aided recovery. The researchers reported that if the task used to recover motor skills is intensive, repetitive and gets the hands and arms moving, it will help.
A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. It can lead to death. Stroke sufferers usually experience physical changes such as drooping face muscles, slurred speech and a loss of strength in the limbs. The researchers said it wasn't clear if virtual reality games or traditional games helped sufferers more. A researcher said: "We…have the tendency to think that new technology is better than old-fashioned strategies, but sometimes that's not the case. In this study, we found that simple recreational activities…may be as effective as technology."
