Interactive Video Game Cycling Leads to Higher Energy Expenditure and Is More Enjoyable than Conventional Exercise in Adults

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the widely accepted health benefits of regular physical activity, only a small percentage of the population meets the current recommendations. The reasons include a wide use of technology and a lack of enjoyment while exercising. The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological, perceptual and enjoyment responses between a single bout of (I) conventional cycling and (II) interactive cycling video game at a matched workload.MethodsA cross-sectional study in 34 healthy participants was performed. Initially, participants completed an incremental maximal cycling test to measure peak oxygen uptake and to determine ventilatory threshold. In random order, participants carried out a 30 min interactive cycling trial and a 30 min conventional cycling trial at 55% of peak power output. During the trials, oxygen uptake and energy expenditure were measured by open-circuit spirometry and heart rate was measured by radiotelemetry. RPE and enjoyment were measured every 10 minutes with Borg scale and a modified PACES scale.ResultsInteractive cycling resulted in a significantly greater %V̇O2Reserve (68.2% ± 9.2% vs 64.7% ± 8.1%), rate of energy expenditure (505.8±75.2 vs 487.4±81.2 j·kg-1·min-1), and enjoyment (63.4% ± 17 vs 42% ± 13.6), P<0.05. Participants were working at a higher intensity in relation to the individual’s ventilatory threshold during the interactive cycling video game trial (M = 11.86, SE = 3.08) than during the Conventional cycling trial (M = 7.55, SE = 3.16, t(33) = -2.69, P<0.05, r = .42). No significant differences were found for heart rate reserve (72.5 ± 10.4 vs 71.4±10.1%) and RPE (13.1 ± 1.8 vs 13.2 ± 1.7).ConclusionInteractive cycling games can be a valid alternative to conventional exercise as they result in a higher exercise intensity than conventional cycling and a distraction from aversive cognitive and physiological states at and above the ventilatory threshold.

Exergaming can be an innovative way of enjoyable high-intensity interval training

“…It has been shown to be an enjoyable activity for adolescents, young adults and older adults, thereby having a potential for sustained activity participation 11 12. However, previous studies on the physiological responses to exergaming have found that such gaming elicited light-to-moderate exercise intensity 12–14…”

Comparação das respostas fisiológicas durante a prática de exergame e atividades convencionais: uma revisão sistemática com metanálise

“…Porém, devido à extensa variedade metodológica dos estudos existentes, pouco se sabe sobre quão próximos são os efeitos fisiológicos do jogo em EXG em relação às mesmas atividades realizadas de forma convencional. Hipotetiza-se que, apesar das atividades apresentarem demandas semelhantes, possam existir efeitos distintos, principalmente devido aos níveis de imersão e engajamento que tendem a ser mais altos em EXG, ao compará-los com atividades físicas convencionais 11 . Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática e metanálise sobre os efeitos fisiológicos agudos entre essas práticas de atividades descritas.…”

“…As amostras selecionadas foram compostas por universitários 5,14,15,19 , adultos jovens 11,16,18,20,21 e escolares 17 . Com exceção do estudo de Haddock et al 17 , que foi realizado com escolares de 12,0 ± 1,2 anos, os demais estudos utilizaram sujeitos adultos com idades entre 20 ± 1,0 anos 21 Nesse contexto, quatro estudos compararam EXG de ciclismo com bicicleta estacionária convencional 5,11,15,19 , quatro compararam EXG de corrida com correr em esteira ou pista 14,17,20,21 . Ainda, um comparou EXG de boxe com treinar boxe em saco de pancadas 18 e um confrontou sessão de fisioterapia com EXG com sessão de fisioterapia convencional 16 .…”

“…Kraft et al 15 19 encontraram, para os percentuais de 25% e 50% da carga máxima dos cicloergômetros do EXG e convencional, valores médios de 128,7 ± 17,9 bpm e 157,6 ± 20,4 bpm para o jogo, contra 96,5 ± 12 bpm e 135,9 ± 15,9 bpm na atividade real, ou seja, valores 33,4% e 16% menores, respectivamente. Além disso, três estudos não alcançaram diferenças significativas entre as atividades 11,16,21 , e três obtiveram valores maiores para a atividade real, com valores entre 49,1% e 63,4% da FC de reserva 5 , e valores máximos de 156 bpm 18 e 195,0 ± 6,0 bpm 20 , maiores 13% e 15% respectivamente que o jogo.…”

Active Video Games: Paving the way to Virtual Online Active Games

“…Research results have shown that AVGs deemed more fun increase the length of participation and energy expenditure during AVG play [102]. When PA is viewed as entertaining, doable, relevant, and enjoyable, players enter into a flow state that result in increased energy expenditure and less perceived effort [103,104]. VOAGs allow for cooperative and competitive play over the Internet with others players enabling participants to engage in PA that expands the pool of participants from proximal to an online community of participants thereby increasing opportunities for participation.…”