Video Games and Hip-hop Music Helps Elderly Recover

Video games and hip¹-hop music are unlikely tools for doctors hoping to improve the health of senior citizens. But Australian researchers are showing how virtual fun can help with accident prevention and care for the elderly.

Our reporter Li Dong has more.

 
Australian doctors are discovering how technology can be used to help their older patients keep healthy.

By using the latest gaming technology, health workers can encourage older patients to do more exercise and improve their mobility² in order to prevent further injury.

Susan Gaden lost a degree of mobility after suffering a bone fracture. She says she would have benefited from the technology:

"I had a hip replacement³ 12 months ago and that sort of technology would have been very useful in my rehabilitation⁴."

Dr Stuart Smith from Neuroscience Research Australia says using technology makes a big difference to how people feel about exercise:

"If you put a game controller in people's hands or get them to stand in front of a video game system that can track their movement, then they'll keep doing their exercises."

The technology has been designed for older patients to use safely and easily. Dr Smith says it's about finding suitable exertion⁵ levels:

"We can put into the game music that older people like. Now, one old guy that works with me really likes hip-hop music, so I've got to try and make a version of the game that's not going to break his neck."

One in three Australians aged⁶ over 65 have a fall in their home each year. Few make a complete recovery. Dr Stuart Smith has found games that focus on dance steps that can help the elderly with their balance and co-ordination.

Other applications for the technology are on the way. Researchers say specially⁷ tailored games could help manage weight problems and cerebral⁸ palsy.

Educating health workers in other areas such as fire safety management could also be introduced via software.

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal is from the E-health Transition Authority, a body that electronically collects and exchanges health information.

He says embracing new technology is a significant part of health reform.

"Australia has been coming to the forefront of this area because of the way in which we're doing the rollout of health reform and using technology in that process."

It's hoped Australia's pending⁹ national broadband network will fuel the way for more high-tech¹⁰ health solutions.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.

1 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

2 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

3 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

4 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

5 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

6 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

7 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

8 cerebral   

adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的

参考例句：

• Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。
• He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

9 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

10 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。