DDR as a means of Physical Therapy

[Rychan]

I've heard of DDR being used as physical therapy before by a girl that I met while staying with my aunt and uncle in California.

Is there anyone out there that has used DDR as PT after an injury of some sort, perhaps from a sport? I'd like to hear your stories and I may ask permission to use these stories to present it to one of the therapists there.

I am asking because I want to see about getting the place where my friend goes to PT to have a Playstation with DDR (which I will gladly donate) in order to help get some of the younger PT patients moving again, also so I can play while I wait for her to finish her PT, but that isn't the point of this thread. I have talked to a few of the other patients while they were waiting to see their therapist and described the game to them, I've even had a couple grab a piece of paper and write the name down so they could look into it.
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[Chipp]

About four years ago when I got knee surgery I started playing DDR and my leg muscles started working faster

[Slowpoke]

I don't think a doctor would endorse an impact activity as a means of physical therapy.

[DJX]

I agree; DDR seems too condusive of stress injury to be a safe and effective means of physical therapy. What kind of injury are you talking about using it to recover from?
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[Rychan]

[Maxx 999]

[claw]

i use ddr to heal my ddr injuries

[Perry]

I had major hip surgery a little over a year ago (and heavy medications to treat over a dozen figure skating related overuse injuries in the joint). I did conventional PT for several months after the surgery, and for about a year before it, but, combined with the fact that I was trying to get back to skating, PT, once I started back on the ice, actually agravated my hip more.

I started playing DDR in November (the surgery was in May), and though there were times it really hurt my hip, I think just that fact that it kept me moving it, keeping the scar tissue from reforming, was something. You're able to quit DDR easily, if it hurts after a song, you don't have to do anymore, whereas with PT, we drove an hour to get there. Of course, you'd still have to drive if the machine was at PT.

My very reputable surgeon cleared me for once I described it to him, and said, as long as I paid attention to my body and pain, even though it was weight-bearing, it shouldn't hurt me. I definately couldn't have done it right after the surgery (I couldn't walk for 2 months), and even in November, I couldn't do it much, but it was great to find something flexible, and fun, that could actually help my therapy, and allow me to regain some of the stamina, agility, and muscle mass I'd lost (and now it serves as a great warm-up for skating, since excersizing in a cold, injured joint is probably the worst thing you can do for it).

Having it at a PT place is actually a great idea, provided the staff is trained to deal with it, and fully understands what's involved. Since it is a weight-bearing excersize, patients would have to be monitered closely, and should only be able to do it if they're decently healthy. I had my first major injury (my knees) when I was 10, so I know how horribly boring PT can be for kids. Though I probably couldn't have done DDR with that injury, I'm sure that for kids up to doing it, it could really make PT less excruciating boring.

The final say, though, would obviously have to go to the doctors and therapists. Every doctor has a different point of view; just because mine thought it was a good idea doesn't mean that everyone would agree with him. And every person will probably have a different experience; just because it helped me doesn't mean it won't actually hurt other people. But PT is a huge game of guesswork, especially with injuries as uncommon, or even just newly common, as mine. I would advise just to talk to the doctors and PT people, show them these testimonies, and see what they think.

[Atomsk255]

Well that is a good thought but the thing is, you don't want too much pressure on an unstable area, maybe as a final thing you can do, like when you can perfectly pass a light song (well not perfectly but you get the idea) then your considered no longer injured.
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[Rychan]

I am going to write up a letter to my friend's physical therapist and hand it to him probably at her next appointment which should be monday or tuesday of next week. If there are any more stories, they would be greatly appreciated.
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[Mr_Blasty]

I play DDR until my feet are raw, swollen, and bleeding. Then i play until i fall down.
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[Rychan]

[invincible1]

Well about 5 years ago, i could barely even walk. Doctors told me I would probably never walk again, blah blah blah which is why i hate doctors and dont trust them at all now. Anyway shortly after that i started skating and got a little better, enough so that i could move fairly alright.

Then i started getting into DDR and now, 2 or 3 years later I can walk perfect. So DDR as use for physical therapy gets 5 stars from me. Most doctors will probably just say it will mess you up but i have better advice for you. Dont ever listen to doctors.

Also if you have a very bad injury it might not be great to do high speed or any type or high difficulty stuff for a while.

[Aimbot]

[Johnny Rainbow]

Apparently, Triple H of the WWE played(plays?) DDR for his injured leg. Dunno if he still does, but yeah. This is according to dj 8-ball.
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[Rychan]

[DDR_Coheed_And_Cambria]

Seven

[Cutriss]