High-intensity exergaming for improved cardiorespiratory fitness: A randomised, controlled trial. Issue 6 (3rd June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berg, Jonathan; Haugen, Guri; Wang, Alf Inge; Moholdt, Trine
• Is Part Of: European journal of sport science. Volume 22:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 867
• Page End: 876
• Publication Date: 2022-06-03
• Subjects: Aerobic fitness -- exercise -- sedentary living -- fitness -- technology -- active video games‌; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2021.1921852
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-1391

Abstract

ABSTRACT : Exergaming has been proposed as a promising alternative to traditional endurance training since many experience exergaming as more enjoyable. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to determine the exergaming-induced effect on cardiorespiratory fitness. This parallel-group randomised controlled trial, investigated the effects of regular exergaming among healthy adults (aged ≥ 18 years) who were not endurance-trained. Participants allocated to the exergaming group ( n = 13) used the Playpulse exergaming platform for a minimum of 45 min twice weekly for eight weeks, whereas the control group ( n = 17) received no intervention. The primary outcome measure was the between-group difference in peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak ) after the intervention. V̇O2peak increased significantly from baseline (43.9 [SD 7.0]) to after the intervention (45.3 [SD 8.2] mL kg −1 min −1 ) in the exergaming group, compared to the control group (42.4 [SD 7.0] to 42.0 [SD 5.7] mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ) with a between-group difference of 2.1 mL kg −1 min −1 (95% CI: 0.2–4.1; p = 0.04). The average score on the Feeling Scale reported during exergaming was 3.4 (95% CI 3.2–3.6), with 3 being "good" and 5 "very good" and was not related to the participants' exergaming skills. There were no adverse events during this trial. Two weekly sessions using the Playpulse exergaming platform can improve V̇O2peak . This finding suggests that exergaming can be an efficient form of endurance training. Furthermore, our findings indicate that participants' enjoyed exergaming irrespective of exergaming skills. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04112329. .