ProCPR Blog

Here’s the start of my experience with EA Sports Active. If you’re interested in following my progress with the 30 Day Challenge, I’ll be writing about it as I make progress.

Today was my first experience with the game and it was also the first time I’ve really started to get some real exercise in a very long time, so I’m counting on seeing some results, and perhaps some of you will be inspired to join me in this endeavor.

Side note: the game has sold more than 600,000 copies since it’s release a couple of weeks ago, so you won’t be alone in this.

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If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know how excited we are about EA Sports Active.  Starting June 1st, I’ll be joining with the many people that are taking up the 30 Day Challenge and I will be blogging about the experience right here.  You can also follow the progress on twitter (@procpr).

You, too, can take part in the 30 Day Challenge.  Here’s information about it.
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In keeping with our theme of writing about fitness games for the Nintendo Wii, another game has just been announced.  As many of our readers know, Wii Fit and EA Sports Active are games that are very good for physical training and physical fitness.  Both are being used in physical therapy centers around the world.  Another game hopes to join those ranks, adding nutrition to the mix this time around.

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Looking to give back to those who risk it all to keep us safe, game developer Epicenter Studios announced today that they will be donating a share of their proceeds from “Real Heroes: Firefighter” for the Nintendo Wii™ to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

“We wanted to try to give back to these brave women and men who put their lives on the line every day to keep the public safe,” said Nathaniel McClure, CEO of Epicenter Studios. “This is our attempt to bring recognition and support to a wonderful organization that not only supports firefighters battling cancer but also aggressively promotes prevention and early detection.”

For more information about the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, please visit – http://www.FirefighterCancerSupport.org

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EA SPORTS™, a label of Electronic Arts Inc., announced today that EA SPORTS Active™ is now available in North American retail stores and will be available worldwide by May 22, 2009*. Developed exclusively for the Wii™ by EA Canada, EA SPORTS Active is an innovative, virtual fitness product that offers personalized, customizable workouts that can be done from the comfort of home. Developed in collaboration with fitness experts, including Bob Greene – renowned exercise physiologist, author and Oprah’s personal trainer – EA SPORTS Active is a fun and cost-effective way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. The product will be the first in a new line of EA SPORTS virtual fitness products to improve the well-being of people of all ages.

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Heath Bell in June 2008

I have a friend that’s lost about 50 or so pounds, so far, with Wii Fit.  Seriously, that’s no small accomplishment. He’s been using it almost daily, since its’ release last year, for 30 minutes.  The transformation is really quite incredible.

Now, San Diego Padres pitcher Heath Bell has credited Wii Fit for the motivation to lose weight, to the tune of 25 pounds.  As far as I’m concerned, Wii Fit is a revolution in weight-loss, and has gotten people to work out that may not otherwise have had the motivation to do so.

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There’s a video game coming that will allow anyone to be a firefighter.  It’s something that I dreamed of when I was a kid, and I’m sure that many others also dreamt of.  I am excited to give this game a shot, as it appears to be a way into that world.  It should also serve to inspire people to pursue that line of work.

The press release follows more screenshots after the break.

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Wii Fit aids 10-year-old Nicole Cahill to be able to walk again

Ten-year-old Nicole Cahill suffered a severe infection in 2004, leaving her in a coma for twenty-four days.   She was six years old.  The infection led to a condition called acute disseminating encephalis, which causes brain swelling and can lead to a stroke.

The strokes left Nicole with severe disabilities.  She was unable to move, swallow or speak, and spent eight months undergoing treatment in the form of physiotherapy and injections.

Fast forward four years, to June 2008, and Nicole traveled from her home in Ireland to Beth Israel medical center in Manhattan, New York, seeking treatment for her motor disabilities.  Before she agreed to the treatment, her mother told doctors that she would not allow it unless they were absolutely sure they could do something for her daughter.

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Wii is constantly breaking new ground in gaming, and uses for video games.  Playing Wii Fit, a friend of mine lost over 41 pounds in a few months.  Now, EA Games is getting in on the fitness action with EA Sports Active.

Here’s the press release from EA Games:

Do you find there are too few hours in the day to run a household, hold down a job and fit in a workout? Or, are you just getting bored of the same old fitness routine? EA SPORTS^TM, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced the development of EA SPORTS^TM Active, an innovative new customizable and personalized fitness product that will get you motivated to move in the comfort of your home. EA SPORTS Active will launch exclusively for the Wii^TM worldwide next spring.

Developed in collaboration with fitness experts, including Bob Greene – renowned exercise physiologist, author and Oprah’s personal trainer – EA SPORTS Active is perfect for the whole family, though designed specifically for women seeking a simple, fun and cost-effective way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. The product will be the first in a new line of EA SPORTS fitness and sports performance products in development to improve the well-being of people of all ages.

“EA SPORTS Active and our entrance into the fitness space is an exciting and groundbreaking milestone for EA SPORTS,” said Peter Moore, president, EA SPORTS. “As we continue to expand our brand, we have a real opportunity to redefine the home fitness experience with a more Western cardiovascular approach and exercises that will appeal to a diverse audience, getting people off the couch and into shape while interacting with our products in a way never before possible. EA SPORTS Active costs less than a gym membership, it provides a variety of exercises unlike a one dimensional in-home fitness contraption, and it delivers an interactive experience that you don’t get from a DVD – this is a true fitness revolution and a space in which we intend to be leaders.”

EA SPORTS Active features a wide variety of interactive activities combined into a circuit that target both the upper and lower body as well as cardio, and supports two players to allow family or friends to get fit together. EA SPORTS Active provides a new level of motivation with on-screen, real-time feedback on your workout such as calories burned, while also allowing you to adjust intensity levels. EA SPORTS Active ships with two specially-designed leg straps that hold the Wii’s Nunchuk controller to track lower body movements, as well as a resistance band to support a number of upper body strength training exercises.

“One of the most frequent questions I am asked is how to get fit at home – especially from busy moms. EA SPORTS Active provides a fun and effective workout that targets your upper body, lower body, and gets your heart pumping in just 20 minutes a day,” said Greene. “It’s a great way to get moving when you can’t get outside or you only have a short amount of time at home. In addition, I like the variety of exercises that it provides – one of the many reasons it has earned the Best Life seal of approval.”

EA SPORTS Active features a “30 Day Challenge,” a fitness road map for players to reach their fitness goals with the guidance of a virtual trainer. The Challenge provides a new, 20-minute workout every time a player exercises, including clear instruction, feedback on technique and positive encouragement throughout the workout. Each circuit will feel different and increase in intensity as fitness levels improve to help you work up a sweat and work toward your fitness goals.  Users can also create their own custom workouts that vary in activity, duration and intensity, and the Wii Balance Board will add functionality to many exercises.

EA Sports Active will be available on May 19, 2009.

There’s a research review that suggests getting exercise therapy after surgery for a slipped disc. It may help people to overcome the pain and disability more quickly.

In the new review, covering fourteen previous clinical trials, researchers found that patients who received exercise therapy got over their pain and physical limitations sooner than those who hadn’t. Not only that, but there was no evidence that rehab had raised the risk of a repeat surgery. The value of post-surgery exercise therapy had been questioned, up until this point, with the primary concern being re-injury caused by exercising too soon.

Dr. Raymond Ostelo, the lead researcher, suggests that it is a “good idea” to start an exercise program as soon as possible, as well as return to daily activities, after lumbar disc surgery.

Patients should speak to their doctors about the form and duration of rehab that is best suited to their condition.

One more place Wii Fit could help!

-via Reuters