Does a virtual functional training induce cardiovascular responses in normotensive adults after a single session and over weeks?

Abstract

Purpose. Active video games (AVG) provide an attractive alternative to sedentary behaviours and may bring some health benefits. However, single-session and chronic cardiovascular effects of AVG remain unclear. the aim of this study was to verify the impact of single-session and 4-week virtual functional training on cardiovascular responses in normotensive adults. Methods. In a pre-experimental study, 8 university students performed a 30-minute AVG session (Nike Kinect training® game) at the intensity of 64% (based on heart rate [HR]) and twice a week for 4 weeks (8 sessions). HR and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were measured immediately and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after each session. A generalized estimating equation model and t-test were used to examine changes in cardiovascular responses over time (p < 0.05). Effect size was calculated by Cohen's d. Results. A single session did not promote post-exercise hypotension (PEH). However, SBP (6.6-9.0 mm Hg) and DBP (4.5-5.5 mm Hg) decreased in 3/8 and 2/8 sessions, respectively. In pre/post-intervention comparisons at rest, small to large reduction effects were found for SBP (-3.0 mm Hg, d = 0.3), DBP (-4.7 mm Hg, d = 0.6), HR (-9 bpm, d = 0.8), and double product (-1389.3 mm Hg × bpm, d = 1.6). Conclusions. Virtual functional training reduced cardiac workload (chronic effect) and promoted PEH in some sessions among normotensive adults. these findings have practical applications for improving physical activity with attractive exercise forms, which should be recommended for healthy people.

Cardiovascular and Enjoyment Comparisons after Active Videogame and Running in Type-1 Diabetics: A Randomized Crossover Trial

“…The novelty of this study was that it verfied the acute and late cardiovascular responses and the enjoyment levels of AVG and traditional exercise sessions in T1DM patients. Our data differed from a) previous studies performing AVG and running in non-diabetics, which only considered the immediate acute physiological changes 10,[12][13][14]26 ; b) studies performing only with AVG without traditional exercise comparison in non-diabetics [10][11][12]14,25,26,34 ; c) the study with AVG and traditional exercise modalities in the same training program which does not allow verifying what exercise type was handled metabolic improvements in T1DM 6 ; and d) studies verifying non-diabetics cardiovascular responses after AVG without considering enjoyment levels [10][11][12][13]34 .…”

“…These results could prevent atherosclerotic denegation, inflammatory responses, and future coronary risks 2,3 . Previous studies have also verified similar MDD results after AVG and traditional exercise sessions, and have shown that minimum MDD changes could promote cardiovascular and metabolic health 11,26,31 . Therefore, health professionals who work with T1DM patients can use our results for including AVGs as complementary management tools that provide cardiovascular benefits with great enjoyment levels.…”

“…Additionally, our sessions showed similar changes without statistical significance for HR, BP, and DP variables after 30 minutes and 24 hours after exercise compared to rest or control sessions. It is possible that volunteers' normotensive baseline values have contributed to a non-significant postexercise hypotension (HPE) after a single session 11,33,34 . We also observed that active sessions promoted similar increase in VD and %EF values after 30 minutes.…”

“…These values remained high after 24 hours compared to rest and control sessions. This could have happened because of the reduced myocardial effort, that resulted in a reduction of peripheral vascular resistance after AVG and running sessions compared to the rest or the control group 11,26 .…”

“…In the recent years, active video games (AVG) have been used to reduce sedentary behaviors 1,8,9 . Being played primarily by healthy younger people 1,[8][9][10][11] , AVGs can acutely increase HR, BP, and DP, and reach the metabolic equivalents (METs) intensities recommended by the exercise guidelines 1,9,[11][12][13] . Compared to traditional exercises, such as treadmill running, AVGs seem to be more enjoyable to practice 14 .…”