Games consoles are being used in a city hospital clinic to encourage patients to move their upper bodies.

A Nintendo Wii system will now be used to help treat people who have suffered injuries which restrict their movement.

With a watchful eye on NHS coffers, Claire Flavell, senior occupational therapist at Lincoln County Hospital, approached Nintendo to see if it would sell them a discounted Wii console.

But the computer giant refused payment and donated the console to the hospital's occupational therapy department.

Ms Flavell said she thought the hugely popular Wii console would provide a way of bringing rehabilitation equipment into the 21st century.

Virtual sports on the games console – which include bowling, tennis and golf – all involve intricate hand, wrist and arm movements with the Wii remote controller.

"The main aim of occupational therapy is to help people achieve their full potential following accident or illness," said Ms Flavell.

"As outpatient occupational therapists we frequently see patients who have hand function problems as a result of fractures or other injuries.

"Among other things we help to reduce swelling, develop hand grip and improve joint range of movement.

"The bowling game is particularly popular for people who need to improve the movement in their wrist, elbow and shoulder.

"And playing the game is a good distraction for patients who are in pain as it encourages natural movement."

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust spokesman Anna Temple said that the Wii is just the first step in using state-of-the-art games consoles to benefit patients' health.

The hospital is hoping that a charitable group will donate a Wii Fit balance board which provides exercise programmes in yoga, aerobics and body strengthening techniques.

"We would like to expand our use of the Wii and use it to benefit other parts of the body," said Miss Temple.

For the full story, see Monday's Lincolnshire Echo.