Active video games as a form of exercise and the effect of gaming experience: a preliminary study in healthy young adults?

Objectives

To examine the energy expenditure and heart rate response while playing active video games, and the effect of gaming experience on energy expenditure.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants and interventions

Twenty-eight healthy participants (18 male, age 19 to 27 years) played either Wii Sports Boxing, Tennis and Baseball, or Wii Sports Boxing and Wii Fit Free Jogging.

Main outcome measures

Percentage maximal heart rate (%HRmax) and metabolic equivalents (METs) were measured during 15minutes of rest and during each game.

Results

Mean %HRmax and METs while playing each of the four games were as follows: Wii Fit Free Jogging 71% [standard deviation (SD) 13%], 5.9 (SD 1.8); Wii Sports Boxing 58% (SD 13%), 3.2 (SD 1.1); Wii Sports Baseball 42% (SD 6%), 2.0 (SD 0.5); and Wii Sports Tennis 42% (SD 7%), 2.0 (SD 0.4). Subjects with gaming experience achieved a lower heart rate playing Wii Sports Tennis compared with subjects without gaming experience.

Conclusions

Wii Sports Boxing, Tennis and Baseball are light-intensity activities, and Wii Fit Free Jogging is a moderate-intensity activity. Experience of gaming may affect the exercise intensity of games requiring controller skill.

Active video games as a form of exercise and the effect of gaming experience: a preliminary study in healthy young adults     C. O’Donovan, J. Hussey
Physiotherapy - September 2012 (Vol. 98, Issue 3, Pages 205-210, DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2012.05.001)