The use of video games has become a norm for many individuals and families. They can be used to relax after a long day at work or to allow the whole family to participate in something together. Many people think of video games as just a form of entertainment, but could they actually be more? Meditation is used as therapy to reduce the stress of daily life. It's a way to focus your mind on the present and alleviate the stress that life can cause. By focusing on something other than stress, a person is able to relax. Applying these same observations to the act of playing a video game, we can see how playing a video game can be as effective as meditating. By playing a video game, the mind is no longer focused on the stress of the day. The person playing the game focuses on the task of playing the game and alleviating the stress they may experience in daily life. Juan Alcibar, a soldier recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, says, "When you sit in your room thinking about what happened, it drives you crazy," he says. “It’s something to help you forget your sorrows.” (Qtd. in Musgrove) For this soldier, playing a video game is therapy that helps as much as meditation would. The use of physical therapy for patients suffering from a physical injury is a common practice in most medical settings. Physiotherapy normally involves using the injured part of the body in a physical way to strengthen muscles and relearn fine motor skills. According to an article written by Lindsey Tanner, normal exercises used to treat the injured can be painful and boring. In her article, she interviews therapists using the Wii game console in their rehabilitation process. It pays off, with use...... middle of paper ...... It doesn't matter if you use them to relax after a long day at work or as a way to get some well-deserved exercise, Video games are becoming a norm in our society for many uses other than simple entertainment. Works located on Gordon, Serena. “Violent video games may not desensitize children: StudyData suggests children's long-term 'emotional memory' is not affected. » US News & World Report. February 23, 2011. The web. February 26, 2011.Musgrove, Mike. “Games as Therapy for Walter Reed Injured.” Washington Post. May 27. 2007. Internet. February 26, 2011. Schiesel, Seth. “Physical education classes turn to a video game that works the legs.” New York Times. April 30, 2007. The web. February 26, 2011. Snider, Mike. “Video games may actually be good for you. » The United States today. September 27, 2005. The web. February 26, 2011. Tanner, Lindsey. “Doctors Use Wii Games for Rehabilitation Therapy.” USA Today. February 8, 2008. Web. February 26. 2011.