The US military is using Nintendo’s Wii as a therapy tool to help wounded soldiers recover from their injuries. Stars and Stripes reports on Spc. Shawn Roberts, who was involved in a vehicle accident in Kuwait last April. The Army hospital he’s at is experimenting with using the Wii to make therapy more interesting and enjoyable than the normal monotonous exercises patients have to go through.

“Staff Sgt. Bryan Vallerie, an occupational therapy technician, said the game wouldn’t replace anything in the department’s physical therapy repertoire but could enhance treatment for some patients.

“It’s a healthy, fun alternative to doing these things,” Vallerie said.

Therapists see the game benefiting patients with nearly any kind of injury, including patients with traumatic brain injuries. The department plans to analyze the results of using the game and would like to purchase its own game console, if possible.”

The US Army is one of the more enthusiastic users of videogames, employing it as a recruitment tool in America’s Army, which they have just announced an Xbox 360 version for. They’ve also been involved in Full Spectrum Warrior, which was used as a training tool, and have used Xbox 360 controllers in their iRobot range of SUGV combat robots. It seems like someone doesn’t mind videogames and violence being associated then.

[via Joystiq]