Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease might breathe easier after working out on the the Wii Fit, according to a study by researchers at the University of Connecticut.

There is no cure for COPD, though a regular exercise can ease symptoms by increasing muscle tone and improving cardiopulmonary fitness. In the new study, patients performed specific Wii exercises while researchers compared their maximum workload, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and other measures. The video-game exercise results were similar to those from “low-intensity calisthenics, the researcher said.

“Finding an exercise routine that patients enjoy may help motivate them to exercise regularly,” said Jeffrey Albores, M.D., of the University of Connecticut Health Center. For this study, patients used Wii Fit to run in place, step in place, maneuver an obstacle course and perform upper arm exercises.

Read more on the health benefits of video games.

Source
The study was presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in Denver.