Wii Exercises to Warm Up

If you have the Wii games and just couldn't wait to get started, you probably noticed that after a while your neck and shoulder muscles were sore and tired. This is something new to the human body and if you aren't loosened up properly, you are going to feel the affects after playing.

The British Chiropractic Association suggests these five exercises to loosen up before you play.

1. Shoulder Shrugs: Shrug your shoulders upwards towards your ears. Hold it for two to three seconds then release. Do this 3 to 5 times.

2. Wrist Stretch: Slowly stretch the wrist backward and hold for 3 to 5 seconds. Then stretch it forward and hold. Repeat this 3 to 5 times.

3. Make a Fist: Hold the arm at right angles from the elbow. Make a fist and tense it, as well as the whole of your arm. Hold, then relax and let the arm flop to your side.

4. Neck Muscle Stretch: Try to make a double chin to stretch the muscles at the base of the neck. Hold this position 3 to 5 seconds and then relax. Repeat this 3 to 5 times.

5. Lower Back Stretch: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Slowly circle your hips 5 times to the left and then reverse going 5 times to the right. Repeat twice.

Some Wii players are so intense, that they often pull or strain muscles in their body. Some play for hours on end and don't realize that they are over doing it. Many of the problems are caused because people don't understand what all is involved when you play. They have a misunderstanding of how Wii actually works.

Nintendo's Wii first came out last November. Since that time more than 5 million have been sold. Some stores can't get them fast enough. With more than half of its' sales in the US, it has become the fastest selling video game in history.

It use to be that gamers were only using their thumbs. Now with Wii, they are using their whole body plus different range of motions as well. If a gamer isn't prepared for the various movements, they will develop stiffness in their muscles and joints. The Wii is popular because for the first time it needs more use of the human body to successfully maneuver a skill.

Right after Wii came out, Chiropractors noticed that many were complaining about soreness and stiffness. This prompted the British Chiropractic Association to come up with ideas of having individuals prepare to play. They came up with the five stretching exercises mentioned earlier.

They also suggest that you play the game in an area where you won't pump into other furniture or players. The physical intensity of the game can become very strong at times. That is why it is recommended to be played in an unrestricted environment.

Some people only plan to play for 10 minutes but end up playing longer than expected. Wii can be played by just about every age group. This too can cause problems depending on your age and your body range of motion. It is also recommended to take a break every now and then to give your body a chance to relax.

Some of the activities, like that of boxing, can even increase your heart rate. If you are not use to this, you are putting undo stress on your cardiovascular system as well. That is why the go slow attitude is recommended with the game.

Who would have thought that Video games would reach beyond just the use of our thumbs. Wii does just that.