Falling over is bad, but especially if you’re old. The Wii may be able to keep old folks upright:

Using the Wii, Wii Balance Board peripheral, and a game designed specifically for the research project, researchers found that elderly participants showed improvement in balance and gait.

Researchers tested the games on elderly participants in Dublin and Belfast. They found that those who played the games had “significantly greater” improvements in balance control than those test subjects who didn’t participate in the video game activity. The researchers concluded that improving balance could play an important role in reducing the risk of falls in older adults.

As anyone with an elderly family member or friend can tell you, a serious fall can cause serious injuries and ultimately have an effect on the social and physical well being of fall victims. This research hopes to discover new ways to help the elderly avoid accidents through being active.