Child & Family Development Child & Family Development

July 6, 2015

Occupational Therapy review: video games as therapy

Jessica Hoffarth, MS, OTR/L, an occupational therapist at the Midtown office of Child and Family Development, recently reviewed an article.  This post from Today in OT shares information about a burgeoning treatment approach called Mystic Isle, a video game that quantifies and tracks patients‚Äô movements as they complete a series of of exercises.  

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Mystic Isle uses a Microsoft Kinect camera and custom software that immerses players in a virtual island full of customized physical and cognitive tasks. The clinician predetermines the patient‚Äôs specific physical and cognitive goals, customizing the level of difficulty for each goal.  Researchers are working to validate video games designed specifically for rehabilitation.

Jessica is always on the lookout for evidence-based occupational therapy approaches and is excited about the possibilities with this one for children and teens. 

Our 9 occupational therapists are licensed by the state of North Carolina.  We do not employ assistants or aides. We are in-network with many insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, Cigna, Medcost, North Carolina Medicaid, Primary Physician Care and United Health Care. Clients also may pay privately and access out-of-network benefits.