The California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA) is warning that Wii games like Wii Sports can lead to overuse injuries, such as pulled muscles, stress fractures and tendonitis that occur from repetitive play.  According to the article the New England Journal of Medicine lists Wiitis as a condition similar to tennis elbow, and a doctor in Spain diagnosed Nintenditis in a patient who suffered a shoulder injury after playing the Nintendo Wii for hours.

The CATA offers tips for staying safe and injury-free while exergaming:

1. Warm-up. Do some jumping jacks, run or walk in place for three to five minutes. Then slowly stretch the legs, arms and lower back, holding each position for 30 seconds to avoid pulled muscles. Stretch again when finished playing.
2. Dress appropriately. Wear tennis shoes with good support to prevent ankle injuries.
3. Move obstacles. Make sure that objects like chairs, rugs, couches, tables or other obstacles are cleared from the area where the game is being played.
4. Use proper technique. For the Wii, move the controller from the forearm and not just the wrist. When playing games that require larger movements, make sure not to overextend the knees, hips or other sensitive joints.
5. Don’t ignore pain. Players need to listen to their bodies. If they feel pain or shortness of breath, they should stop immediately before the problem gets worse.
6. Practice moderation. Limit play to an hour each day. Moderation is key.

We posted an article on stretching before your Wii Workout, late last year.