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.
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.
