Assessing Physical Activity Levels While Playing Virtual Reality Exergames: A Pilot Study

Mário Teixeira, Hildegardo Noronha, Hildegardo Noronha, Pedro Campos, Pedro Campos, Pedro Campos, Cíntia França, Cíntia França

2024

Abstract

Due to the exponential growth in technology, exergames emerged as innovative tools that might be used to promote PA enjoyably. This study describes the development of a virtual reality (VR) exergame and the preliminary implementation results. The system was developed through the Unity3D platform and the HCT Vive, consisting of two mini games: a dance game and a snow skiing game. Five healthy adults (25.2  3.9 years) performed one VR exergame session and were monitored for PA intensity and heart rate (HR). After the session, participants were asked to report their perceived exertion and to fill in a system usability questionnaire. During the session, participants spent more time in sedentary activity (≈ 37.5%), followed by light activity (≈ 35.1%), and moderate-to-vigorous activity (≈ 27.4%). An average of 27.2 steps/min and HR of 123.5 bpm were registered while playing. Perceived exertion scores were higher in the dance mini game than in the snow skiing mini game. Regarding usability, participants considered the system easy to use and would like to use it more often. This study summarizes preliminary and promising results on the ability of VR exergames to promote light and moderate PA.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Teixeira M., Noronha H., Campos P. and França C. (2024). Assessing Physical Activity Levels While Playing Virtual Reality Exergames: A Pilot Study. In Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS; ISBN 978-989-758-719-1, SciTePress, pages 95-101. DOI: 10.5220/0013061300003828

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsports24,
author={Mário Teixeira and Hildegardo Noronha and Pedro Campos and Cíntia França},
title={Assessing Physical Activity Levels While Playing Virtual Reality Exergames: A Pilot Study},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS},
year={2024},
pages={95-101},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013061300003828},
isbn={978-989-758-719-1},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support - Volume 1: icSPORTS
TI - Assessing Physical Activity Levels While Playing Virtual Reality Exergames: A Pilot Study
SN - 978-989-758-719-1
AU - Teixeira M.
AU - Noronha H.
AU - Campos P.
AU - França C.
PY - 2024
SP - 95
EP - 101
DO - 10.5220/0013061300003828
PB - SciTePress