PSA: excessive Wii use could lead to 'Wiiitis'
by Ross Miller 
{ Jun 7th 2007 at 4:00PM }
Wii injuries, often dubbed "wiinjuries," have been noted since the console's launch, but now one doctor has decided to give the tennis elbow-like symptoms caused by excessive Wii play an official medical diagnosis: Acute Wiiitis.The condition, pronounced "wee-i-tis," was named by Dr. Julio Bonis, who suffered from the ailment from playing hours of Wii Sports. Bonis' findings were published (subscription required) in the New England Journal of Medicine and later reported by CNN.
Acute Wiiitis can reportedly (and thankfully) be treated by taking ibuprofen for a week and also a week-long break from using the Wii remote, but warning: it's best advised to treat it soon or the long-term ramifications could be dire.
[Via Engadget; thanks, Dave Jurcevic and Zoot Suit Jedi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Viridium @ Jun 7th 2007 4:10PM
Interesting.... Bonis, Wiiitis. Insert your own joke.
LunarDuality @ Jun 7th 2007 4:11PM
I dunno about "Wiiitis" but I certainly had joint issues in my left hand after Guitar Hero II came out. Mainly in my ring finger. So, I took ibuprofen and took a week off from the game. Guess I shoulda been a doctor.
http:\\www.xblarcade.com
http:\\lunarduality.wordpress.com
Fernando Rocker @ Jun 7th 2007 4:12PM
Nintendo gets a lot of publicity for free... Reggie and Shigeru must be cleaning their asses with $20s
LunarDuality @ Jun 7th 2007 4:13PM
Oops...messed up my own links. D'oh!
http://www.xblarcade.com
http://lunarduality.wordpress.com
vidGuy @ Jun 7th 2007 4:12PM
Sounds like a positive article in a thin disguise.
"Bonis said he still plays the games, "but I try to use it with moderation. Sometimes it's hard to do!""
But somehow I don't think his diagnosis or treatment is going to win any recognition from the medical field: "The treatment consisted of ibuprofen for one week.."
My Only Regret Is That I Have... Wiiitis!
Crono @ Jun 7th 2007 4:23PM
Don't you worry about Planet Express, let me worry about blank.
sheppy @ Jun 7th 2007 4:25PM
I had a similar condition. I was playing Red Steel and it made me so angry I began to strike my friend with the Wiimote until it blasted apart into tiny chunks which dug into my skin, creating a bastard of science as the Wiimote became an extension of self.
I call this problem "Fictitis." Now where's my fucking cookie?
JodyAnthony @ Jun 7th 2007 4:26PM
"My Only Regret Is That I Have... Wiiitis!"
haha, damn, I was too late.
GodisaMyth @ Jun 7th 2007 4:36PM
From the moment the Weemote was announced I wondered about something like this. You cannot rest your arms on your legs using a weemote like you can with a regular remote control. I am sure after an hour or two your arms must get pretty sore. I am not talking about Wee Sports where you are consistently waving your arms around or Tiger Woods, I am referring to holding your arms out in front of you for a long time while moving the cursor around playing a game like Red Steel.
I have not had much experience with a weemote so tell me wee players....is there any truth to this?
Do your arms ache after an hour or so?
Hirsbrunner @ Jun 7th 2007 4:43PM
My wrist muscles are extraordinarily strong, so it hasn't been an issue w/me.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 7th 2007 4:44PM
"Do your arms ache after an hour or so?"
not mine. The only time my arms ever hurt after playing wii was the day I got it and I was swinging really hard in wii sports.
I played both Zelda and Elebits for multiple hours at a time and had no problem. Obviously everyones experience is different, though.
http://www.wemakethunder.com
Shawn @ Jun 7th 2007 6:03PM
Choking gangsters in The Godfather... I managed to really mess my left elbow up... I have since toned down the violence a little. Never had an issue with Wii Sports or any other game.
vidGuy @ Jun 7th 2007 4:47PM
"I am referring to holding your arms out in front of you for a long time while moving the cursor around playing a game like Red Steel."
You are sorely mistaken about how the Wii is played. The Wii remote is relational, not a direct pointer like a LightGun. You can play with your arms at your sides, on your lap, whatever. I actually play Zelda with the nunchuk to the left of my knee and the remote comfortably on my right thigh. No stress issues at all.
Honestly, if people didn't get SO into the game they wouldn't be causing themselves injuries.
IslandLife @ Jun 7th 2007 4:48PM
Wow, I thought Wiiitis was caused by crappy last gen ports and lame mini games.
I JEST FANBOYS, I JEST!!
vidGuy @ Jun 7th 2007 4:48PM
PS - that means "You CAN rest your arms on your legs using a weemote like you can with a regular remote control."
edgore @ Jun 7th 2007 6:12PM
"My wrist muscles are extraordinarily strong, so it hasn't been an issue w/me."
Also, my palms are extraordinarily hairy, while my eyesight is extraordinarily poor.
Actually, on topic, in games where pointing at the screen does matter (most things with shooting) it can get pretty tiring after a while.
BPM @ Jun 7th 2007 5:22PM
The amount of Futurama quotes in this thread pleases me.
The fact that GiaM still says "Wee" instead of "Wii" disappoints me.
Tom @ Jun 7th 2007 5:23PM
@vidGuy
Was "sorely mistaken" an intentional pun? If so, hehehe.
Anyways, it's easy to play Wii games without waving your arms around like a crazy person. I got the Wii on launch day and, according to my play-time records, I played Zelda for over 6 hours straight. It was not tiring in the least. Red Steel kinda different though: You can't perfectly calibrate the Wiimote like you can in Zelda, so you can't just rest it on your knee and expect good results. I figured out how to cheat in Tennis, Bowling, Baseball, and Boxing... but in Golf you almost have to stand up and move your whole body to get an accurate swing.
umm....hello??? @ Jun 7th 2007 5:33PM
WTF???! it's called fucking exercise--something most of those retards probably haven't had, so of course their joints/muscles hurt. same thing with GuitarHero2. give that same person a REAL guitar and have them play, your arms will get tired and fingers cramped the first few times...after awhile, your body adapts. seriously. wonder if these are probably the same doctors that decided if little Jimmy can't sit still for more than 5 minutes then he's automatically ADHD and needs to be prescribed Ritalin.
GodisaMyth @ Jun 7th 2007 5:32PM
I see, thanks vidguy and Jody.
IslandLife....very funny, fanboy war...Flame on!!!
Mario wets himself THATS why he needs suspenders to keep his pants from sagging down.
Nintendo Wee system...$250
Pack-in minigames...free
Re-hashed ports $50
Extra-Weemote/Nunchuck $60
Never being able to Play Assassins Creed, MGS, LBP etc. because of 7 year old hardware...Priceless
Slaziman @ Jun 7th 2007 6:02PM
I just set the sensor bar to "Above TV", but put it under, so I can keep my arms on my knees. Well, I used to do that, that thing is sold now.
Jack @ Jun 7th 2007 6:17PM
Re: 10.
LONG LIVE THE MIGHT GOD OF A MAN hirsbrunner!!
His wrist muscles so strong!
Thanks for letting us know that.
Kincyr @ Jun 7th 2007 7:07PM
"Wiiitus" is essentially already coined. Dictionary defines "-itis" as "Excessive preoccupation with, indulgence in, reliance on, or possession of the qualities of" and it's not medical, it's psychilogical. The medical definition of "-itis" is "Inflammation or disease of"
Kincyr @ Jun 7th 2007 7:08PM
oops, I mean "Dictionary.COM defines..."
Matthew @ Jun 7th 2007 7:56PM
I have received minor injuries/illness quite a few times from games.
I had sore inner thighs from sitting indian style with my elbows resting on my legs for support while playing a Wii FPS (so that I could keep my aim steady). I held this position for many hours with little movement due to stupidity.
I also played SSX Blur for 7 hours straight and had a sore arm the next day from the rapid movement of the Wiimote for flips and spins.
There are certain FPS games that give me motion sickness. About 1 in 10. I'm guessing they are the ones that don't have steady framerates?
I think the problem is that, even if sore from playing too much the day before, or even if I begin feeling sick, I typically continue playing anyway because I am stubborn (read: stupid) like that.
Catprog @ Jun 7th 2007 9:03PM
PS3 system...$600
Re-hashed ports $60
Extra-Controller $50
paying the most for the console that has sold the least...Priceless
GodisaMyth @ Jun 7th 2007 11:12PM
Not bad Catprog...
Hey wait...you copied me...ur a copier...whaaaaa.
I do dissagree with the re-hashed ports bit. The Wee has the PS3 beat hands down in that department.
PS3 System...$600
Blu-ray player...$0
Online gaming+Home...$0
Paying $250 for a $100 7 year old machine...priceless
vidGuy @ Jun 8th 2007 12:30AM
PS3...$600
10-year-old-controller with tilt sensor but no rumble...$50
Generic game with big guns, aliens, fast cars, and/or glossy sweat, rated M to make sure it is good...$60
Waiting more than a year for exclusives worth a damn...priceless
or
Feeling the need to justify your purchase every minute you spend on the Internet... priceless
hehe, those can be fun!
GodisaMyth @ Jun 8th 2007 2:14AM
Yes they can....I hope we can keep this going once in a while...just to have a laugh.
XBOX 360...$400
XBOX Live Gold...$50 per year
Extended warranty...$100+
Microsoft running out of return boxes for RROD sytems...Priceless
vidGuy @ Jun 8th 2007 8:24AM
XBOX 360...$400
XBOX Live Gold...$50 per year
Thermal paste to fix your own Red Ring of Death...$15
Praying your console lives long enough to get some playtime out of Halo 3... priceless
Ha, that's exactly my situation with the 360 now. It red ringed last week. It's working now but I'm afraid that it'll crap out before I get to hear another pre-pubescent kid scream some string of curse words as he gets his ass kicked.