The games, which encourage players to mimic the actions of sports, can cause painful sprains and fractures, they added.
Although the games have been praised for encouraging people to be more active, using them incorrectly or for long periods can lead to injuries.
This year, the Wii is predicted to be one of the most popular Christmas presents. But doctors said those who spent too long on the games, especially those unused to exercise, were at risk of strain.
Researchers at Leeds Teaching Hospital have identified an injury they called "Wii knee". Last year, osteopaths reported that they saw an increase in back patients after Christmas, and blamed the trend on fathers trying to keep up with their children on the machines.
The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) also said there had been an increase in the number of injuries caused by excessive use of Wii.
Richard Milner, of the BSSH and a consultant plastic and hand surgeon, said that he expected the number of patients to increase over Christmas. He said: "We treated a patient this week who had injured herself using a Wii. She was playing tennis with a partner and fractured one of the bones in her finger when he hit the back of her hand with the control."
Dr Andrew Coley, a paediatrician at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said playing the games for too long in the first flights of enthusiasm could lead to injury. He diagnosed one of his patients when he recognised an injury similar to that he had also sustained over-using his Wii.
"This patient had got a Wii for Christmas, hadn't exercised in a while and overdid it. I hurt myself by trying to get an Ace on my serve in the tennis game." Players using a Wii game
source
The growing toll has prompted NHS doctors to warn of the dangers.
Wii-itis sufferers usually have excruciating pain in the right shoulder or knee.
A rheumatology consultant said: “Most are admitted after playing the tennis and running games which involve sudden movements and violent tendon stretching.â€
Dr Dev Mukerjee, of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, said: “There has been a 100 per cent increase in patients complaining of Wii-itis.
“I’ve seen many patients aged between eight and 13 — and I’ve seen adults.
“It’s possible that Wii-itus may lead to rheumatism and arthritis in later life. Patients often have inflammation of the shoulder or wrist.â€
Others have a ligament injury dubbed Wii-knee which some have blamed on the popular Wii-Fit game.
Dr Mukerjee said: “People who are double-jointed are most likely to suffer from Wii-knee — and in extreme cases the knee cap can be dislocated or can even pop out.â€
Treatment includes cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory painkillers. Recovery takes up to three months.
Docs advise stretching exercises before play.
source
Although the games have been praised for encouraging people to be more active, using them incorrectly or for long periods can lead to injuries.
This year, the Wii is predicted to be one of the most popular Christmas presents. But doctors said those who spent too long on the games, especially those unused to exercise, were at risk of strain.
Researchers at Leeds Teaching Hospital have identified an injury they called "Wii knee". Last year, osteopaths reported that they saw an increase in back patients after Christmas, and blamed the trend on fathers trying to keep up with their children on the machines.
The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) also said there had been an increase in the number of injuries caused by excessive use of Wii.
Richard Milner, of the BSSH and a consultant plastic and hand surgeon, said that he expected the number of patients to increase over Christmas. He said: "We treated a patient this week who had injured herself using a Wii. She was playing tennis with a partner and fractured one of the bones in her finger when he hit the back of her hand with the control."
Dr Andrew Coley, a paediatrician at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said playing the games for too long in the first flights of enthusiasm could lead to injury. He diagnosed one of his patients when he recognised an injury similar to that he had also sustained over-using his Wii.
"This patient had got a Wii for Christmas, hadn't exercised in a while and overdid it. I hurt myself by trying to get an Ace on my serve in the tennis game." Players using a Wii game
source
The growing toll has prompted NHS doctors to warn of the dangers.
Wii-itis sufferers usually have excruciating pain in the right shoulder or knee.
A rheumatology consultant said: “Most are admitted after playing the tennis and running games which involve sudden movements and violent tendon stretching.â€
Dr Dev Mukerjee, of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, said: “There has been a 100 per cent increase in patients complaining of Wii-itis.
“I’ve seen many patients aged between eight and 13 — and I’ve seen adults.
“It’s possible that Wii-itus may lead to rheumatism and arthritis in later life. Patients often have inflammation of the shoulder or wrist.â€
Others have a ligament injury dubbed Wii-knee which some have blamed on the popular Wii-Fit game.
Dr Mukerjee said: “People who are double-jointed are most likely to suffer from Wii-knee — and in extreme cases the knee cap can be dislocated or can even pop out.â€
Treatment includes cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory painkillers. Recovery takes up to three months.
Docs advise stretching exercises before play.
source
