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

Małgorzata Dębska, Jacek Polechoński, Arkadiusz Mynarski and Piotr Polechoński
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Małgorzata Dębska: Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 43-512 Katowice, Poland
Jacek Polechoński: Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 43-512 Katowice, Poland
Arkadiusz Mynarski: Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 43-512 Katowice, Poland
Piotr Polechoński: Faculty of Physiotherapy, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 43-512 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-12

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; virtual reality; intensity of physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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