Energy management using virtual reality improves 2000-m rowing performance

Abstract

Elite-standard rowers tend to use a fast-start strategy followed by an inverted parabolic-shaped speed profile in 2000-m races. This strategy is probably the best to manage energy resources during the race and maximise performance. This study investigated the use of virtual reality (VR) with novice rowers as a means to learn about energy management. Participants from an avatar group (n = 7) were instructed to track a virtual boat on a screen, whose speed was set individually to follow the appropriate to-be-learned speed profile. A control group (n = 8) followed an indoor training programme. In spite of similar physiological characteristics in the groups, the avatar group learned and maintained the required profile, resulting in an improved performance (i.e. a decrease in race duration), whereas the control group did not. These results suggest that VR is a means to learn an energy-related skill and improve performance.

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“…Environmental conditions recorded during the test resulted in average temperature of 23.9 ºC and average relative humidity of 61%. The test was performed on an ergometer Concept 2 model D (Hoffmann, Filippeschi, Ruffaldi, & Bardy, 2014) adjusted with drag factor 115 and examined through PM5 monitor (Maciejewski, Messonnier, Moyen, & Bourdin, 2007). Heart rate was monitored with two heart rate sensors Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart connected to two heart rate monitors Polar M400 (Sempf, Brahms, & Thienes, 2016), to store the heart rate per second, and an iPad with the Polar Team app v.1.1, for visualization and control for athletes and coaches.…”

A Review of Gamification in Virtual Reality (VR) Sport

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The Potential Usefulness of Virtual Reality Systems for Athletes: A Short SWOT Analysis

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“…VR systems enable athletes to learn remotely from any coach and at a time and place of their own choosing, improving a wide variety of skills such as decision-making and pacing strategies that optimize utilization of energy (Hoffmann et al, 2014 ; Murray et al, 2015 ; Romeas et al, 2015 ; Gokeler et al, 2016 ). Creative behavior, involving a wide variety of patterns of movement and tasks (Santos et al, 2016 ), can be stimulated by providing a plethora of appropriate exercises.…”