WSJ concerned about Wii owner health

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 25th 2006 at 8:00PM }

The Capitalist's Bible, also known as the Wall Street Journal, gives a backhanded compliment to the Wii today saying it gets people off the couch, but "is turning out to be more exercise than some players bargained for." The article explores how people are beginning to develop -- wait for it -- "Wii elbow." One after another the WSJ serves up another poor soul who has been exerted by the Wii-ness. For example, Ryan Mercer lifts weights during the week but Wii Sports' boxing is pwning him, "I was soaking wet with sweat, head to toe -- I had to go take a shower." The following morning he was so sore he had trouble getting his shirt on.

Nintendo's name-dropping spokesperson Perrin Kaplan is quoted in the piece saying she hasn't received any complaints about soreness. Serving back WSJ's backhanded compliment she says, "It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

So the answer is to train up before you Wii and you won't get sore, but please remember you can always play the Wii like a toolbox.

Tags: exercise, wall street journal, wii, workout, wsj

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Wedge @ Nov 25th 2006 8:04PM

Thank god, someone finally got the reference right ;P.

Goofyman @ Nov 25th 2006 8:06PM

Actually, I remember the day after I played Wii Sports for like 10 hours. I was so sore, it was painful. Now it's not so bad, I'm used to the extensive use and it's good, the initial is bad.

Also, boxing does make you sweaty. You're constantly moving.

007craft @ Nov 25th 2006 8:08PM

im confused about the buzz around the internet here. Everyone says the wii is a workout machine, but I lie down on a bed and barely move my wrist and it gets the full motions needed. How could anyone break a weat like this? Tennis, bowling and all that require no more movement then writing with a pen.

Then again, this may be why I find the wii to be quite boring, because all im doing is flicking my wrists instead of pushing buttons. Thats even less fun to me. The only aspect I like about the wii is when you have to aim, its much easier.

Cousin Skeeter @ Nov 25th 2006 8:09PM

Exercise is one of the main reasons Im purchasing a Wii...

littleonetwo @ Nov 25th 2006 8:17PM

you wanna feel soreness, play some madden 07 on the wii playing the fieldgoal challenge with a friend all night.

never thought blowing wind could be so hard.

ChuckSteak0331 @ Nov 25th 2006 8:20PM

How F*&^ing fat are these people? Ouch, I'm sore. (Fatty) I'm really sweaty and need to shower. (Lardo) My Wii remote just cracked my TV. Here's a hint for you, hold on to the damn thing. You just dont let it swing freely while you play. It seems that the only complaints about the system are from lazy ass people. So far not one story about no sales because of Graphics. Or anything else. Its all about, help Im a lazy pile of shit and I have to move to play these games? Well pah! I'll just bitch and moan about how sweaty I get. (not only from walking up a flight of stairs but also playing 30 seconds of Zelda.) Alright, I'm stopping, this is pissing me off.

32_Footsteps @ Nov 25th 2006 8:24PM

Ironic - we have actual injuries developing from a video game, and yet you-know-who is nowhere to be found. Of course, said injuries are due to poor conditioning and overexertion, but that never stopped any poorly-considered lawsuits before.

aegies @ Nov 25th 2006 8:28PM

i was actually discussing this with a friend post-wii inaugural get-together. many people here are probably too young to remember nintendo thumb, but it was definitely real, and definitely sucked. looks like repetitive stress injury is set to replace nintendo thumb as the video game injury du jour. i know my elbow was a bit sore after an hour or so of wii tennis, and i am not overweight. i'm not saying it's going to be some massive issue, but it is present.

lain @ Nov 25th 2006 8:29PM

i think that's a little broad #6. i get sore from playing wii sports. i don't mind it--it's fun exercise. my point: i'm 5'6 and weigh 125lbs. am i a lardo because i get sore?

Superdotman @ Nov 25th 2006 8:33PM

With any luck, reports of Wii Sports-related violence will outweigh those of GTA-related violence, then the mainstream media will confuse the two, conclude it's a non-issue and shut up. =D

ill trooper @ Nov 25th 2006 8:41PM

ChuckSteak0331: Shut up. Just put down the Mountain Dew and stop typing.

Jamaicangmr @ Nov 25th 2006 8:43PM

@ ChuckSteak0331

This is potentially a problem for Nintendo because they designed the Wii to be accepted by the causal mainstream consumer. These injuries and appliance deaths are big negatives because it will cause Nintendo's own target consumers to shy away from it.

Many casual gamers don't want the complication of injuries and the side effects of sorness while playin a video game. What makes things worst are the reports of TV,PC Monitors and PDA deaths which only serves to make them reconcider a purchase. Because little Timmy's mother is going to start thinking "Wow!" this thing is dangerious Timmy could put out an eye then what do you think she will do?

This is why many may just see the Wii as a gimmick or a fad that might just be forgotten or pass sooner than we all though. You get upset but remember these people paid just as much as you did for a seemingly fun machine. Why are they stupid and deserves to be attacked verbally? Grow up your anger doesn't change the fact that the very same thing that Nintendo is hopin will pull many to the Wii might end up pushin many away.

Miz @ Nov 25th 2006 8:54PM

My right arm got a bit sore from playing WiiSports at first, but it was a good kind of sore. A "Tomorrow morning your arm will be just a little bit stronger" kind of sore. Now I don't have any soreness issues at all.

In conclusion, people should learn not to mistake exercise-induced discomfort for crippling injury.

Tom @ Nov 25th 2006 8:55PM

It's not Repetetive Strain Injury these people are getting, it will take a lot longer than a couple of days to get that! Muscle soreness is common when doing new exercises and will cease to be a problem after a day or 3. The more you play the less of an issue it will be.

JAC @ Nov 25th 2006 9:04PM

Ok, before the Wii people blamed videogames for making people sedentary and now they are giving shit to
Nintendo for making videogames so that people can be active while playing them???

Morisato @ Nov 25th 2006 9:04PM

"It's not Repetetive Strain Injury these people are getting, it will take a lot longer than a couple of days to get that! Muscle soreness is common when doing new exercises and will cease to be a problem after a day or 3. The more you play the less of an issue it will be."

This makes pwning n00bs oh so much sweeter.

I'm not fat what-so-ever, but after playing 2 rounds of intense wii boxing I had to take a break to catch my breath. BTW you cant sue nintendo for your injuries, that is why they have that screen that says, why dont you press + and take a break between games.

Kupa @ Nov 25th 2006 9:33PM

To be fair, the article infers that WSJ did not coin the term "Wii elbow" themselves. Be that as it may, it is still a ridiculous sounding phrase.

Xeno @ Nov 25th 2006 9:35PM

I was actually joking with my friend about how after a month of Wii, we'll be ripped! Hulkamania, baby!

Cabcru @ Nov 25th 2006 9:56PM

These weights this guy lifted? Were they for measuring ingredients for cookery?

Stop bytching @ Nov 25th 2006 10:02PM

"It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

Um yea explain that to the girlfriends and grandma's thats supposed to be playing this thing, what happened to that. I guess you dont need an HD set but you need to be in shape. You cant go against the grain, you'll lose. Yea MS and sony promote HD but thats where things are going, people on the other hand are getting in better shape. I knew this would happened. And just like i said before there will be a lot of used wii before Xmas

Mitchell Dyer @ Nov 25th 2006 10:36PM

I pulled some muscles in my tricep and shoulder yesterday because I was so into bowling...

The 213 was totally worth it though.

Embassy @ Nov 25th 2006 11:29PM

well maybe if nintendo didnt advertise the wii by having people jumping over couches making shooting gestures or acting like thier in a real sword battle for thier life...maybe..just maybe...people wouldnt over exert themselves while playing these games...

i mean how can u really blame consumers when the company advertises the games in such a manner?

friedgreenmushrooms @ Nov 25th 2006 11:50PM

@ Stop bytching:

There are going to be a ton of used Wiis before Xmas? Good, maybe then I'll be able to find one and actually play my copy of Zelda. But I seriously doubt that those Wiis will be returned. Even if people weren't enjoying them (and they are), most people would be too lazy to take it back, and would just keep it to be brought out occasionally at parties or something.

Which means I'll have to start providing sexual favours to EB Games staff members if I want a Wii before 2007. Whatever, I need to play Zelda.

Kish @ Nov 26th 2006 12:07AM

He's right. Going to be a lot of used wii's before christmas? You guys who haven't played really shouldn't be giving feedback.

Yea it is sore, but it is the good kind of excited sore, like after a good football game.

"phew guys, I'm sore from that game yesterday. Hey remember when..."

Soreness after a game has never killed a single activity. Have you ever heard anyone who has PLAYED a wii say they wanted to get rid of it because they are sore? No, because they feel great, even if they are sore.

Its called working out. Remember that guys? Working out?

And 007, your right. You can play from a bed, barely moving. But honestly, its not nearly as much fun. Heck, my bro goes so far as to sit down and tell "micky" he needs to be cut in between rounds of boxing. "I can't see Micky, I can't see..."

Man we love this system.

Vlad @ Nov 26th 2006 12:27AM

I agree with 15. Why is this a bad thing? getting people to MOVE AROUND some more during gaming is not a bad thing. I like the fact that I've got a whole new set of sensory organs working in my gaming...not just audio/visual, but I've got movement and tactile stimulation now. bring it on.

Shogan @ Nov 26th 2006 12:33AM

You know, I thought I was pretty lazy. But seeing the people on here complain about having to move their arms a little in Wii Sports is pretty pathetic.

Nintendo has been the kiddy system for a while now, and the others have been the mature systems. Now, Nintendo will have this buff army of Wii players while the haters will keep their pale flabby bodies.

Now cue a Nintendo hater to say "I work out 5 times a week and have 0.03% body fat..." Yeah right, and Wii Sports is just too much to handle? lol

Xizer @ Nov 26th 2006 1:32AM

You know, #7, I too am surprised He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hasn't jumped on this yet. After all, he does seem obsessed with video games and violence - the Wii remote has proven to be destructive. I thought that guy would be all over this.

Tukka @ Nov 26th 2006 1:41AM

"im confused about the buzz around the internet here. Everyone says the wii is a workout machine, but I lie down on a bed and barely move my wrist and it gets the full motions needed. How could anyone break a weat like this? Tennis, bowling and all that require no more movement then writing with a pen."

Really? When I try playing Tennis or Bowling from the chair my performance suffers pretty significantly, I've noticed. Games like Zelda, standing up seems to make little or no difference, but in games like Tennis and Bowling I find that using full, natural motions helps me with my timing and such.

NotAnElitistPrick @ Nov 26th 2006 2:00AM

November 25, 2006:

Perrin Kaplan on user difficulties with the Wii.

"It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

January 25, 2005:

Ken Kutaragi on user difficulties with the PSP.

"This is a result of the design and 'something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to.'"

OMG! SEPARATED AT BIRTH!

Sean @ Nov 26th 2006 5:12AM

My shoulders were super sore after wii boxing, and I work out regularly.

It's only a matter of time before Billy Blanks makes a Tae-Bo Wii game.

CS7 @ Nov 26th 2006 5:26AM

Doesn't all things needs to be moderated?
Like sporting too much, gives you injury as well?

Does the booklet say take a 15 min break or more after playing it for an hour? (intensively or not)

MJ @ Nov 26th 2006 6:19AM

Well I thought the whole point was to make gameplay interactive? So of course your going to break a tiny sweat, depending on how you play, EyeToy wasn't very different.
And seeing how you probably shouldn't play to many hours of video games at a time, maybe this can reduce peoples consumption.

Ryoga Vee @ Nov 26th 2006 6:24AM

Im with #16, after two rounds of boxing i was like "WoW, thats a workout!"
I'm starting to understand how things and get broken. and people get wore. Even though it does not take much movement, durring tennis I could not help but to get really into the game and let the AI have it. I ended up hitting a near by object with the WiiMote, no dammage. Still I love the Wii.

Masamune @ Nov 26th 2006 9:35AM

"These weights this guy lifted? Were they for measuring ingredients for cookery?"

Weight training and the movement in Wii Sports requires different sorts of muscle training. Weight lifting deals with short-term endurance, whereas Wii Sports requires lengthy long-term endurance sections. So even if you are ripped, you can still have a hard time with Wii Boxing since it requires lots of movement.

It also means that playing Wii Sports won't give you a weight lifter's body. If you DO get muscular from playing Wii Sports, it's more likely to be similar to an athlete.

Mike @ Nov 26th 2006 11:32AM

its good exercise but i just dont want to here on the 5:00 news that a fat kid was found dead while playing madden on the wii like you here the storys that a kid was playing basket ball and just droped to the floor

Miz @ Nov 26th 2006 11:38AM

"November 25, 2006:

Perrin Kaplan on user difficulties with the Wii.

"It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

January 25, 2005:

Ken Kutaragi on user difficulties with the PSP.

"This is a result of the design and 'something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to.'"

OMG! SEPARATED AT BIRTH!"

Kutaragi was talking about a known, built-in malfunction in one of the PSP's buttons. I think that situation was a bit different from "OMG MOVING MAKES ME TIRED".

Andrew @ Nov 26th 2006 11:51AM

I hit the gym 3 days a week so I guess I'm prepped for when I get my Wii this X-Mas. It's funny how people don't realize that they're going to get some exercise if they move their bodies. It's also funny that these casual gamers haven't figured out that you can really play most of these games without moving all over the place (aka like the folks in the ads). I am glad that people are getting some exercise from the Wii. Someone should tell this guy that the first week of any workout is rough, but will feel great after that.

Bob @ Nov 26th 2006 12:33PM

Some of the buzz was around the idea that this was only an American thing. Check out the results of the poll with the question "If you own a Nintendo Wii, how much of a workout is it for you?" Quite the difference between American and Non-American Wii gamers on how they view the "Wii Workout." Interesting how the lowest and highest votes for Americans vs. Non-Americans is exactly opposite.

http://www.computers.net/2006/11/wii_workout_pol.html

Will @ Nov 26th 2006 1:33PM

hahaha this is so ridiculous. "I hurt my elbow playing Wii so Nintendo is negligent" "I pulled a muscle playing soccer, in a few months noone will be playing soccer" "I blistered my thumb playing guitar, Washburn is so stupid"
My legs were sore my first week of classes because my classes are 2 miles apart... but now they're not. I can't even understand where WSJ is coming from... excersize is bad? Nintendo wasn't thinking because they made something that might require effort?
I seriously can't even believe this is an issue... this is just really really sad.

n8dogg @ Nov 26th 2006 1:41PM

I remember how my mom always took away the little rockets that came with toys that could shoot. She was always afraid I would put an eye out or something. This sounds like the same thing.

chenry @ Nov 26th 2006 6:23PM

boxing's one of the only sports i do in Wii sports and i never break a sweat.. :P

but i did pull a muscle playing tennis D:

frodo @ Nov 26th 2006 10:33PM

I remember seeing news reports as a kid about "Nintendo Thumb". This happens with all new technology. Reporters have to find SOMETHING to write about, right?

robotrousers @ Nov 27th 2006 1:30PM

On a similar note, anybody remember Police 911? It was an arcade game by Konami (I think) where you physically ducked and dodged to play. Played it for maybe 5 minutes in the arcade, and I had jelly legs. Next day they were sore as hell. And no, I'm not a lardass, I just don't work out. Ever.