Video games help recover from a stroke, scientists say.

     A study by researchers at the University of Missouri has shown that video game-based therapy helps patients recover from a stroke and improve motor skills.

    In their experiment, the scientists used the Recovery Rapids game to allow patients to undergo rehabilitation "by completing tasks in a fun interactive environment." The usual exercises after a stroke are repetitive and monotonous, so people rarely stick to them to the fullest.

    "Traditional rehab is very intense and takes three to four hours per session," says Rachel Proffitt, one of the study's authors. “With this new video game approach, we are reducing patient costs and operating time.”