Physiological Cost Of An Active Video Game Versus Other Exercise Modes In University Students

Activity-promoting gaming systems in exercise and rehabilitation

“…However, only 60 percent of participants would have meet the criteria when playing Wii Boxing for health gains with less than seven 30-minute sessions per week [11], and Lee and Pitchford reported that 10 minutes of playing Wii Boxing and Tennis resulted in METs that were classified as moderate physical activity [12]. Welch et al noted that Wii Boxing "provided marginal physiological stimulus" for a group of nondisabled university students (n = 23) compared with a fitness boxing video, with mean heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) greater for the latter (HR: 134 ± 21 vs 163 ± 13 bpm; RPE: 11.5 ± 2.7 vs 14.4 ± 1.8) [13]. For Wii Tennis, Sasser et al reported that HR scores represented only 50 percent of the age-predicted HR maximum [14]; thus, this may not be a high enough intensity level to elicit health improvements based on American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines.…”