Pokémon Go has become the latest mobile phone craze and following its release in the UK last month, has continued to grab the attention of health experts.
The game involves walking outdoors around real-world locations to catch virtual Pokémon, which is a refreshing change for gamers, who are occasionally labelled as indoor types and reluctant to exercise.
It’s certainly not a game limited to just one generation. It gives parents the opportunity to bond outside with their kids, and many professionals have been using their lunch breaks to go Pokémon ‘hunting’.
Occupational therapists and physiotherapists have also been using the game to help with their patients’ treatment. According to a press release by Easter Seals Oklahoma hospital, the techniques involved with the app provides children with hand-eye coordination practise whilst they catch Pokémon.
“This game really helps build on hand-eye coordination because of the pokéballs and using your fingers to capture the Pokémon,” said Lauri Monetti, M. Ed., Development Director at Easter Seals Oklahoma.
A hospital in Michigan praised the game, stating the app gets patients out of their beds and moving around; pushing children to get more involved with their physiotherapy.
Experts are also finding the game to have a positive impact on mental health. Players have been tweeting about how the game has helped them overcome agoraphobia and other mental health obstacles. Although there’s no official proof to support the claims that Pokémon Go is directly responsible for these changes, research does support the theory that walking and spending time outdoors is good for both mental and physical health.
The NHS and other healthcare providers have been encouraging people to be more active for years, could Pokémon be the secret tool to getting more people outside? Get in touch:
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