The effects of exergames on anxiety levels: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

There are currently many different approaches to performing exergames and there is still no consensus as to whether exergames are able to reduce anxiety levels, as well as whether exergames provide greater reductions on anxiety levels when added to traditional forms of clinical interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review and meta‐analysis was to access data from studies that evaluated the effects of exergames on anxiety levels in humans. PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched up to 22 February 2019. Inclusion criteria were acute and chronic (short‐term and long‐term interventions) studies which evaluated the effects of exergames in anxiety levels as primary or secondary aim. Of the 1342 studies found, 17 and 10 were included in qualitative analyses and meta‐analyses, respectively. The within‐group analysis found that exergames (standardized mean difference [SMD]: −0.57 [95% Confidence interval (CI): −0.86 to −0.28], P < .001) and usual care (SMD: −0.21 [95% CI: −0.34 to −0.08], P = .002) resulted in significant improvements on anxiety levels. However, the between‐group meta‐analysis on the effects of control interventions vs exergames (SMD: 0.02 [95% CI: −0.55 to 0.60], P = .939) found no significant difference between groups in anxiety levels reductions. There was also no significant difference (SMD: −0.04 [95% CI: −0.32 to 0.25], P = .805) between usual care vs exergames plus usual care interventions in anxiety levels reductions. Although exergames demonstrated within‐group improvements in anxiety levels across different clinical populations, it was not greater than the effects from non‐exercise interventions. Also, given the paucity of studies, small sample sizes, different research designs, and different population investigated, the existing evidence is insufficient to support the advantages of usual care supplemented by exergame intervention over usual care standalone in anxiety levels reduction.

Staying Physically Active During the Quarantine and Self-Isolation Period for Controlling and Mitigating the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Overview of the Literature

“…Another potentially beneficial activity during the quarantine period could be the utilization of exergames (i.e., active video games) (Viana and de Lira, 2020 ). Such games allow individuals to be physically active through their interactions with action and motion sensors (Viana and de Lira, 2020 ; Viana et al, 2020 ). Widely utilized exergames simulate swimming, rowing, cycling, running, and walking, using visual and auditory stimuli with equipment that includes remote controls with accelerometers, cameras, and heart rate monitors (Viana and de Lira, 2020 ; Viana et al, 2020 ).…”

“…In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, Viana et al ( 2020 ) concluded exergame interventions provided within-group improvements in anxiety levels across multiple clinical populations (e.g., subsyndromal depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, burns in the upper limbs, heart failure); however, level of improvement did not differ from non-exercise interventions. Furthermore, the results of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to a limited number of studies, small sample sizes, differing research designs, and differing populations.…”

The effects of exergames on muscle strength: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Wii ® (from Nintendo company), Sony's PlayStation Move ® , and Microsoft's XBOX 360 Kinect ® systems 20 are the common commercially available systems that allow individuals to play exergames. Although there are several types of exergames, the most common exergames simulate traditional moderate‐intensity continuous exercises (e.g., walking, running, and cycling), 21,22 sports modalities (e.g., basketball, bowling, yoga, tennis, table tennis, baseball, swimming, ping‐pong, and boxing), 23 and dancing 23‐25 . More recently, exergames that mimic resistance training exercises have been made commercially available 26 .…”

“…In simple words, exergames are linked to the idea of integrating ample body movements (e.g., trunk, upper and/or lower limbs) 27,28 with attractive digital games 28,29 . Most studies on exergames investigated their effects on behavior, cognitive, psychological and physical outcomes 23,30 . However, the chronic effect of exergames on muscle strength in healthy and unhealthy individuals is controversial and has not yet been elucidated 31‐33 .…”

“…Considering that exergames require body weight bearing exercises, 28 they might be a useful tool for increasing muscle strength. Nonetheless, as there are currently many different approaches (e.g., different game interfaces, pace of the games, and difficulty of the tasks) to performing exergames, 23,28 there is still no consensus on the effects of exergames on the wide range of muscle strength measures such as handgrip strength, 33,34,38 maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), 31,39‐42 isokinetic strength, 34,43‐45 and one‐repetition maximum (1RM) strength 46 …”