The effect of virtual reality exercise on physical fitness

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess physical fitness (PF) in healthy volunteers using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) after a series of training sessions in virtual reality (VR) using the X-box 360 Kinect System. Materials and methods: This pilot study consisted of 32 healthy subjects aged 19 to 24 years (12 males and 20 females) with the mean age of 20.6±1.4 years and the mean BMI of 23.29±2.3. The subjects participated in the study for 2 weeks, at a frequency of 4 sessions weekly. Each session comprised 4 Kinect Adventures games: 20 000 Leaks, Curvy Creak, Rally Ball and Reflex Ridge. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness. Results: Analysis of data showed improvement in Arm-Curl (30.0 repetitions (rep.)) vs. 35.8 rep., p<0.001), Chair Stand (26.6 rep. vs. 30.2 rep., p<0.001), Back Scratch (3.1 cm vs. 6.1 cm, p<0.033), Chair Sit-and-Reach (1.0 cm vs. 5.3 cm, p<0.001), Up-and-Go (3.5 sec. vs. 3.2 sec., p<0.001) and 6-Minute Walk Test (731.3 m vs. 747.8.m, p<0.220). Statistically significant improvement was noted in 5 out of 6 STF trials. Only the 6-Minute Walk test results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Training using a console with the Kinect motion sensor had positive effects on the physical fitness of the healthy volunteers.

Keywords

• virtual reality
• exergaming
• Senior Fitness Test
• physical fitness