Active Gaming: It Is Not Just for Young People

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-739
Author(s):  
Eric J. Evans ◽  
Keith E. Naugle ◽  
Tyler Owen ◽  
Kelly M. Naugle

Whether active gaming is an appropriate method to facilitate moderate-intensity physical activity in older adults remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intensity of physical activity and enjoyment while playing three active video games in older adults compared with younger adults. Ten younger and 10 older adults played three active games on separate days. Participants played two 15-min periods per game: one period at a self-selected intensity and one period with structured instructions to maximize the movement. Physical activity intensity and enjoyment were measured during gameplay. The results indicated that older adults played games at significantly higher intensities (5.3 + 1.8 vs. 3.6 + 1.8 metabolic equivalents), spent less time in whole-body sedentary activity, and rated games more enjoyable compared with younger adults. With physical activity intensity being consistent with moderate-to-vigorous intensity for older adults during gameplay, the results suggest that active video games could be used as a cardiovascular tool for older adults.

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Foley ◽  
Ralph Maddison

There has been increased research interest in the use of active video games (in which players physically interact with images onscreen) as a means to promote physical activity in children. The aim of this review was to assess active video games as a means of increasing energy expenditure and physical activity behavior in children. Studies were obtained from computerised searches of multiple electronic bibliographic databases. The last search was conducted in December 2008. Eleven studies focused on the quantification of the energy cost associated with playing active video games, and eight studies focused on the utility of active video games as an intervention to increase physical activity in children. Compared with traditional nonactive video games, active video games elicited greater energy expenditure, which was similar in intensity to mild to moderate intensity physical activity. The intervention studies indicate that active video games may have the potential to increase free-living physical activity and improve body composition in children; however, methodological limitations prevent definitive conclusions. Future research should focus on larger, methodologically sound intervention trials to provide definitive answers as to whether this technology is effective in promoting long-term physical activity in children.


CJC Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 555-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kambiz Norozi ◽  
Robert Haworth ◽  
Adam A. Dempsey ◽  
Kaitlin Endres ◽  
Luis Altamirano-Diaz

Author(s):  
Judith E. Deutsch ◽  
Aurora James-Palmer ◽  
Harish Damodaran ◽  
Urska Puh

Abstract Background Active video games have been embraced for the rehabilitation of mobility and promotion of physical activity for persons post-stroke. This study seeks to compare carefully matched standard of care stepping activities, off-the-shelf (non-custom) active video games and custom active video games that are either self-paced or game-paced for promoting neuromuscular intensity and accuracy, cardiovascular intensity, enjoyment and perceived effort. Methods Fifteen persons (ages 38–72) with mild to moderate severity in the chronic phase post-stroke (average 8 years) participated in a single group counter balanced repeated measures study. Participants were included if they were greater than 6 months post-stroke, who could walk 100 feet without assistance and stand unsupported for three continuous minutes. They were excluded if they had cardiac, musculoskeletal or neurologic conditions that could interfere with repeated stepping and follow instructions. In a single session located in a laboratory setting, participants executed for 8.5 min each: repeated stepping, the Kinect-light race game, two custom stepping games for the Kinect, one was repeated and self-paced and the other was random and game paced. Custom video games were adjusted to the participants stepping volume. Ten-minute rest periods followed the exercise during which time participants rested and completed the PACES an enjoyment questionnaire. Participants were instrumented with a metabolic cart and heart rate sensor for collection of cardiovascular intensity (METs and % of max HR) data. Stepping frequency, accuracy and pattern were acquired via video. Data were analyzed using a RMANOVA and post-hoc comparison with a Holm's/Sidak correction. Results Neuromuscular intensity (repetitions) was significantly greater for the off-the-shelf and self-paced custom game, however accuracy was greater for the custom games. Cardiovascular intensity for all activities took place in the moderate intensity exercise band. Enjoyment (measured with a questionnaire and rankings) was greater for the custom active video games and rate of perceived exertion was lower for the custom active video games. Conclusions Custom active video games provided comparable intensity but better accuracy, greater enjoyment and less perceived exertion than standard of care stepping activities and a carefully matched off-the-shelf (non-custom) video game. There were no differences between the game-paced and self-paced custom active video games. Trial registration: NCT04538326.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael José Perrier-Melo ◽  
Thiago De Aguiar Silva Coelho ◽  
Jorge Luiz Brito-Gomes ◽  
Saulo Fernandes Melo de Oliveira ◽  
Manoel Da Cunha Costa

Introdução: Verifica-se que Video Games Ativos (VGA) aumentam os níveis de aptidão física em populações diversas, contudo, esses efeitos são controversos em pessoas idosas. Objetivos: Revisar os efeitos dos VGAs no equilíbrio e analisar o gasto energético em idosos. Métodos: Realizou-se busca nas bibliotecas: MedLine, PubMed, Science Direct e Web of Knowledge, utilizando os termos: exergames, older adults, active video games, virtual reality e elderly. Resultados: Nos oito trabalhos analisados, os VGAs apresentaram intensidades de leve à vigorosa, possibilitando gastos energéticos de acordo com as indicações do ACSM. Verificou-se que, na maioria das pesquisas, utiliza-se a frequência cardíaca para estimar o gasto calórico. Os efeitos positivos no equilíbrio foram identificados nos indivíduos com redução dessa capacidade diagnosticada antes das intervenções, bem como naqueles nos quais foram usadas a escala de verificação do equilíbrio de maneira prática. Conclusão: VGAs são capazes de aumentar o gasto energético e melhorar o equilíbrio em idosos.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
Han Chen ◽  
Haichun Sun ◽  
Jiling Liu ◽  
Peng Zhang

2013 ◽  
Vol 167 (7) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Smallwood ◽  
Michael M. Morris ◽  
Stephen J. Fallows ◽  
John P. Buckley

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A Gasperetti ◽  
John T Foley ◽  
Stephen Yang ◽  
Luis Columna ◽  
Lauren J Lieberman

There is a current trend toward using innovative interventions, such as active video gaming to increase physical activity levels among youth with visual impairments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare three video games (Dance, Dance, Revolution [DDR]; EyeToy Kinetic; and Wii Boxing) in allowing youth with visual impairments to achieve time (seconds spent during a 10-min bout) in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants with complete data were youth ( N = 5) with visual impairments aged 10–16 years who played three games for 10-min bouts. Heart rate monitors measured physical activity intensity. A Friedman’s analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences between the three interactive video games. Most players were able to achieve time in MVPA in all three games and there was a significant difference in time spent in MVPA, χ2(2) = 7.4, p = .024, with the most time in MVPA from playing EyeToy Kinetic. This study demonstrated that EyeToy Kinetic, Wii Boxing, and DDR are capable of helping youth with visual impairments accrue time in MVPA.


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