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Web MD: the Wiimote is actually  a double-edged sword photo

We've all seen the videos on YouTube and read the stories. Injuries caused by overzealous game players getting hurt by way of the Wiimote are nothing new to any of us. However, getting your very own medical term coined after you just might be. In a story that is just too ironic to be true, WebMD tells the tale of a 29-year old medical student (that should have known better) who wakes up to find a bad case of Wiitis in his shoulder.

The culprit? He just purchased a Wii, and had spent several hours the day before playing tennis -- courtesy of Nintendo. Here is what the good doctor, Julio Bonis, had to say about the whole situation:

“If a player gets too engrossed, he may ‘play tennis’ for many hours. Unlike in the real sport, physical strength and endurance are not limiting factors.

With the growing use of this new video game system, the risk of the Wiiitis variant may be higher than that of Nintendinitis reported in the literature, especially among adults. Physicians should be aware that there may be multiple, possibly puzzling presentations of Wiiitis.”

I'm still trying to figure out whatever happened to exercising a little bit of common sense and restraint. I can understand a child getting a bit carried away with Nintendo's joybox, but a medical student? How could such a benign-looking console cause so much pain? We haven't heard of this many people getting hurt from something they enjoy since the advent of Internet porn, hot candle wax, and duct tape.

[Via WebMD]








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28 comments | showing # 1 to 28
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Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 15:41
Oni
The suffix -itis means inflammation. So using it along with the term 'Wii' (thus making 'Wiiitis') boils down to 'Inflammation of the Wii'.

Sounds more like a masturbation injury than anything else (Yeah, I went there).
David Houghton 's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 15:41
David Houghton
"physical strength and endurance are not limiting factors".

That man's clearly not played a 17 hour Wii Sports marathon on launch weekend, or seen my Mum ferrying in wet towels and iced water after a Christmas Day family boxing tournament.

It's a great indication of gaming becoming mainstream that he's instructing doctors to consider the Wii as a possible symptom in diagnosis though.
CaptainN's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 15:43
CaptainN
Not to be confused with the one-hit-wonder pop band Wheatus. heh
imbeta's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 15:45
imbeta
Wii - just like booze. NEVER to excess!
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 15:49
BluDesign
Pepper some "uninspired" "lackluster" "unlike the PS3" and "Farfegnuugen" in there and it reads like a Summa post.

Oh wait.
/blinks
/SOB!

LethalHairdo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:03
LethalHairdo
This is sad on too many levels to even begin commenting. Too me it just paints a depressing picture of society. Unless the good doctor is merely speaking in jest.
UglyShirts's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:06
UglyShirts
Nintendonitis is nothing new. It's been around at LEAST since the NES. Granted, it used to just be the THUMBS...
Grapefruit Juice's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:08
Grapefruit Juice
I got the Itis... ZZZzzzzzzzz

Hey, What do you call a medical student that plays his Wii-tennis for too long?

a Dentist.

thank you, Ill be here all week.
deanhatescoffee's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:20
deanhatescoffee
"Wiiitis" - g'damn - three I's, and then ANOTHER one?
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:25
PappaDukes
I was actually "diagnosed" with Nintendoitis when I was like 12 or 13 by a man that claimed to be a doctor. Turns out I actually just had Chorea which I got from Rhuematic Fever and lost complete control of the right side of my body for about 6 months. YAY STEROIDS!!
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:27
TheBrain
My arm was definitely sore the next day following when I played SSX Blur for 7 hours straight. Ah, sore arm from quick repetitive motions. It's like being 12 years old all over again.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:32
PappaDukes
off topic: is SSX Blur really worth the money?
Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 16:34
Oni
PappaDukes: Yes yes yes yes and more yes. Hell, it's worth the money for the soundtrack ALONE! The game is absolutely fantastic.
Crunshii's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:08
Crunshii
why do i keep reading, wiititis... btw, why dont we SHOW WEB MD of the rapidly recovery of the wiinjuries!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj3W-6ZfFw8
Grapefruit Juice's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:08
Grapefruit Juice
@pappadukes
'FrustratingControl.com' gave it a 9.4
imbeta's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:33
imbeta
[img]http://vgaa.emulationzone.org/dir/albums/Nintendo_Entertainment_System/Dr._Mario/thumbs/mariopeach.jpg[/url]
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:34
PappaDukes
@Grapefruit
I am unfamiliar with this website you speak of, and so is the Internets, apparently. Google just laughed at me... and Firefox is no longer speaking to me.
imbeta's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:34
imbeta

(last comment WASN'T awesome... I blame the Wii arm)
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:36
PappaDukes
I believe in helping the handicapped (both physically, and mentally).

Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 17:52
Oni
WARNING: DO NOT LET DR. MARIO TOUCH YOUR GENITALS! HE IS NOT A REAL DOCTOR!
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 19:06
TheBrain
@PappaDukes

I'd say it is probably worth it. I really enjoyed the game and had little trouble with the controls. Much more fun than using an analog stick and buttons for sure. Just depends on how big a fan of SSX. I only rented it. I plan to buy it when its $30 or so.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 19:53
MechaMonkey
1) A medical student should be far too busy to play hours of Wii. Somebody needs to focus more on their studies.

2) Wiiitis is a ridiculous term, especially coming from someone training to be a medical professional.
deathtruck's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 21:21
deathtruck
http://www.dansdata.com/io025.htm

Perhaps DIMS (Doom Induced Motion Sickness) was around first?
Gameboi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 21:21
Gameboi
@dvddesign

Ah...but there is a stark difference between Summa and myself. I like the Wii, and Nintendo for that matter. Nonetheless, it can't be good news all the time.
mrsamuel's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 21:27
mrsamuel
Firstly, I agree with the people who have already stated that "Wiiitis" is a stupid/nonsense term. Secondly, without even reading the article, I may have lost some respect for WebMD.
denki's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/06/2007 21:48
denki
It's quite obvious the Wiimote is a single-edged sword, not a double-edged sword. A single-edged sword is designed for slicing, a double-edged sword is for stabbing...something the Wiimote totally sucks ass at (play Wii Play billiards and you'll know what I am talking about).
lowercaseluke's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/07/2007 08:35
lowercaseluke
Fuck that shit, if you're not exhausted after 3 games then you're not doing it right.
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