Physiological Responses While Playing Games Virtually Simulated by

Nintendo Wii

Gusthavo Augusto Alves Rodrigues, Danilo Souza Felipe, Elisangela Silva,

Wagner Zeferino de Freitas, Fabiano Fernandes da Silva and Renato Aparecido de Souza

Grupo de Estudos

e Pesquisa em Ciência da Saúde, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sul de Minas

Gerais, Câmpus Muzambinho, Rua Dinah,75, Canaã, Muzambinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil

1 OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the percentage

of VO

max and maximal heart frequency (HR max)

in different games (balance and aerobic) of Nintendo

Wii Fit Plus in young adults. From the results it will

be possible to verify the potential of these games to

incorporate cardiorespiratory training programs.

2 METHODS

This is an interventional and comparative study.

Participated in the study, nine healthy male college

students (20.6 ± 2.01 years, 173.6 ± 3.8 cm, 73.6 ±

8.81 kg, lean body mass 84.0 ± 5.96 %, fat body

16.00 ± 5.96 %, and VO

max 55.8 ± 5.46

ml/kg¯¹/min¯¹). None of the subjects was involved in

an intense aerobic training regimen or maintain a

sedentary lifestyle (minimum of 30 minutes three

times per week).

Experimental Routine. The experimental procedures

were performed at the Laboratory of Physical

Activity in Virtual Environment (LAFAV,

IFSULDEMINAS, Câmpus Muzambinho, Minas

Gerais, Brazil).

The experimental routine consisted of: (a) a

preliminary assessment of the anthropometric and

ergoespirometric parameters (VO

max and HR

max), and (b) characterization of physiological

responses with virtual reality (VR) promoted by

interaction with the Nintendo Wii console

(Nintendo, Kyoto, Japan). It was performed two

exercise sessions, one day apart, with the realization

of different games (Balance and Aerobic categories)

of the Wii Fit Plus software. All procedures were

monitored individually by a researcher.

Assessment of Anthropometric and Ergoespirometric

Parameters. First, it was collected the weight and

height of the subjects. The body composition (lean

mass and fat body) analysis was performed by

Bioelectrical Body Composition Analyzer (RJL

systems, Quantum II, Clinton Township, MI, USA).

The VO

max was assessed on a treadmill by

measuring respiratory gases with the automated

system VO2000 (MedGraphics, Saint Paul, MN,

USA) coupled with a Polar heart frequency meter.

Before each VO

max determination, the gas

analyzers were calibrated according to the

manufacturer's instructions. Subjects began the

graded exercise test at 2.5 mph and 4% grade. Every

2 minutes, the treadmill speed was increased 1 mph

and 4% grade remained constant (Kraemer

Protocol). Subjects reached VO

max and HR max

with achievement of either the primary criterion of a

plateau in VO

with increased workload or with 2 of

3 secondary criteria: (a) attained predicted maximal

HR, (b) RER= 1.1, or (c) 19 or 20 points in the 15-

point Borg scale.

Environment and Virtual Training. The virtual

environment was simulated by the console Nintendo

Wii. The subjects performed the following games of

Balance and Aerobic categories: Soccer Heading,

Table Tilt and Penguin Slide; and Obstacle course,

Hulla Hoop and Free Run, respectively. The games

chosen are the most popular in our laboratory. Each

game was performed three times continually, and the

interval between one game and another of the same

category lasted five minutes.

During these procedures the physiological

responses (VO

max and HR max) were monitored

breath-to-breath using the automated system

VO2000 coupled with a Polar heart frequency

meter. Before each experimental procedure the

system was calibrated.

Statistical Analysis. Statistical analysis were

performed using two way ANOVA followed by

Bonferroni’s test to indicate the localization of

statistical difference. Data were expressed as mean

of percentage ± standard deviation and were

Alves Rodrigues G., Souza Felipe D., Silva E., de Freitas W., Fernandes da Silva F. and Aparecido de Souza R..

Physiological Responses While Playing Games Virtually Simulated by Nintendo Wii.

 2013 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)

considered statistically significant those with a value

of p<0.05.

3 RESULTS

Figure 1 and 2 show respectively the results of

percentage of VO

max and percentage of HR max

related to practice of Wii games. It was showed in

both variables that aerobic games were significantly

more intense than balance games (p <0.05).

Moreover, also it were found differences between

the aerobic games (Obstacle Course, Hulla Hoop e

Free Run) (p<0.05). It was not found differences

between balance games.

Figure 1: The values represent mean of percentage of VO

max (%VO2 Max) during Wii games. **p<0.05 Aerobic

vs. Balance games. *p<0.05 Between the aerobic games.

(n=9).

Figure 2: The values represent mean of percentage of

Heart Rate max (%HR Max) during Wii games. **p<0.05

Aerobic vs. Balance games. *p<0.05 Between Obstacle

Course vs. other aerobic games. (n=9).

4 DISCUSSION

Recently, a new class of video games called

exergames (EXG) has used VR to provide to the

user the possibility for development of sensory and

motor abilities (Vaghetti et al., 2010). Inserted in

this context, the console Nintendo Wii, the world’s

most popular EXG, has been used in several studies,

mainly to verify the therapeutic potential (Sposito et

al., 2013) and physiological/ metabolic responses

(White et al., 2011) during this technology-human

interaction. Some authors have showed that

Nintendo Wii significantly increase total body

movement and energy expenditure compared to

sedentary gaming (Maddison et al., 2007).

The main findings of the current study confirm

the hypothesis that is possible to achieve intensities

of stress physical compatible with health

cardiovascular promotion (i.e. >40% VO

max and

HR max). In this case, it is important to consider that

only the aerobic games were sufficient. Although the

balance games showed values lower than 20% of

max, it is important to consider these games to

joint proprioception training.

In a similar study, (Souza et al., 2013) showed

that the physical activity in a virtual environment

emulated by Nintendo Wii is able to change the

acute cardiovascular responses to health promotion.

This possibility has also been observed in other

studies related to the interpretation of physiological

demand promoted by Nintendo Wii games (Miyachi

et al., 2010).

In summary, the results of this study support the

feasibility use of the Nintendo Wii in training

programs and favor its indication more securely.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the Fundação de Amparo à

Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG -

APQ-02744-11) and the Instituto Federal de

Educação, Ciência e tecnologia do Sul de Minas

Gerais (IFSULDEMINAS) for financial support.

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