GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist has written a blog about science since 4 August 2004 (the early years are archived 
tags: wii, wiiitis, repetive-motion injuries, medicine
I spend between one and two afternoons at my local watering hole each week (when the library is closed), using their free wifi connection to post entries onto my blog. This watering hole is somewhat ahead of the curve as far as modern entertainment goes, since in addition to wifi, it also has wii (pronounced "wee").
What is wii, you ask? Wii is a new video game where people can use a small hand-held "wand" that allows them to simulate real body movements by hitting tennis balls or tossing bowling balls while playing competitively against an opponent on a 18- or 20-foot plasma screen. The wonderful thing about wii is that even people in wheelchairs can play these virtual sports games at a competitive level. However, like with most video games that do not test one's physical strength and endurance, people often become enamored with wii and play nonstop for many many hours, and this inevitably leads to repetitive-motion injuries.
A letter that was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Dr. Julio Bonis, from the Research Group in Biomedical Informatics in Barcelona, Spain, observed that playing wii tennis for many hours can cause a condition that is similar to tennis elbow, but "[t]he variant in this patient can be labeled more specifically as 'Wiiitis.'"
Wiiitis (pronounced "wee-eye-tis") is the latest ailment to develop from the video game era, beginning with Space Invaders' wrist in 1981, which was caused by the repeated button mashing required by the popular arcade game, and "Nintendinitis" first diagnosed in 1990, which was characterized by thumb soreness caused by pushing the buttons on a controller.
But wiiitis can be successfully treated although, for some afficionados, the treatment might be worse than the symptoms.
"The treatment consisted of ibuprofen for one week, as well as complete abstinence from playing Wii video games," wrote Bonis, who first diagnosed the condition in himself. "The patient recovered fully," he added dryly.
Wii also markets virtual golf, boxing, baseball and bowling, and more games are likely on the way. As a result, physicians should be aware of the unusual and possibly unexpected symptoms that wiiitis could manifest.
"Future games could involve different and unexpected groups of muscles," Bonis cautions. "Physicians should be aware that there may be multiple, possibly puzzling presentations of Wiiitis."
The best way to avoid wiiitis is to take frequent breaks from the game and to peel one's body off the couch (or barstool) and get out of the house (or the pub) more often.
Sources
Reuters (quotes)
Comments
To my knowledge, 'wiiitis' is the first word to have an 'i' triplet.
Note the date, and let's see how long it takes for it to show up in a crossword puzzle.
Posted by: Roy | June 7, 2007 5:05 PM
yes, i noticed that too.
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | June 7, 2007 6:07 PM
A bit of a quibble, but the Wii is not a game per se, but rather a system that plays games (sports, driving, adventure, etc.)
Its turns out that another blogger, Athiest in a mini van, also had a run in with a Wii. Here's a link:
http://possummomma.blogspot.com/2007/04/casualty-of-wii.html
Posted by: Russ | June 8, 2007 1:54 AM
Better than when it first came out and the strap broke :o) Standing near a wii playing person was dangerous.
Any idea what the clue would be for wiiitis?
I can guess an unsuitable UK clue but not sure what they'ld use in the US.
Posted by: Chris' Wills | June 8, 2007 5:50 AM
pain after prolonged playing of wii is probably a good clue for the onset of wiiitis. what would they predict as a clue in the UK?
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | June 8, 2007 12:29 PM
If it was the Sun crossword.
You'll get a sore wrist after visiting the urinal.
Posted by: Chris' Wills | June 8, 2007 1:34 PM
Standing anywhere near someone playing Wii sports is dangerous. Google for wii injuries and see some of the black eyes and nasty bruises people have given each other (not to mention things like remotes flying through the TV screen before they fixed the strap problem).
Also, there are already a lot of games out for the Wii. Wii Sports (which is what has all the games you describe, and is incredibly fun) is just what comes packed in the box. Fortunately, most other games don't cause as much arm flailing, so there probably won't be as many injuries for those.
Finally, I just have to mention as well, there is nothing more embarassing than realizing you are winded and worn out by a few minutes of pretend-boxing.
Posted by: CaptainBooshi | June 8, 2007 2:22 PM