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. 2019 Sep 30;16(19):3673.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193673.

Enjoyment and Intensity of Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Performed on Innovative Training Devices in Compliance with Recommendations for Health

Małgorzata Dębska  1 , Jacek Polechoński  2 , Arkadiusz Mynarski  3 , Piotr Polechoński  4
Affiliations

Enjoyment and Intensity of Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Performed on Innovative Training Devices in Compliance with Recommendations for Health

Małgorzata Dębska et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the enjoyment and intensity of physical exercise while practicing physical activity (PA) in immersive virtual reality (IVR) using innovative training devices (omni-directional Omni treadmill and Icaros Pro flight simulator). The study also contains the results of subjective research on the usefulness of such a form of PA in the opinion of users. In total, 61 adults (10 women and 51 men) took part in the study. To assess the enjoyment level (EL) Interest/Enjoyment subscale of Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was used. Exercise intensity was assessed during 10-min sessions of active video games (AVGs) in IVR based on heart rate (HR). The average enjoyment level during physical exercise in IVR on the tested training devices was high (Omni 5.74 points, Icaros 5.60 points on a 1-7 Likert scale) and differed significantly in favor of PA on Omni. In the opinion of the majority of participants, AVGs in IVR on the tested devices constitute a sufficiently useful form of PA to meet the needs of leisure time activities, and they can even replace some forms of physical effort performed in a classic way. The intensity of PA during games on training devices was at the level recommended for health benefits for 80.55% (Omni) and 50.77% (Icaros Pro) of its duration. Based on the conducted research, it can be assumed that AVGs in IVR using a multi-directional treadmill and a flight simulator can be an effective tool for increasing participation in health-oriented PA.

Keywords: health-oriented physical activity; immersive virtual reality; intensity of physical activity; virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Omni-directional Omni treadmill enabling locomotive movements in virtual reality (VR). Source: author’s elaboration.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Icaros Pro – flight simulator in VR. Source: author’s elaboration.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The average intensity of physical effort during active video games (AVGs) in VR on the Omni treadmill and Icaros Pro flight simulator, * p < 0.01.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Duration of physical activity at different intensity intervals when practicing 10-min active video games (AVGs) on the Omni treadmill and Icaros Pro flight simulator, * p < 0.01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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