Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise Program on Blood Glucose, Body Composition, and Exercise Immersion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Yu-jin Lee, Jun-hwa Hong, Myung-haeng Hur () and Eun-young Seo
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Yu-jin Lee: College of Nursing, University of Eulji, Uijeongbu 11759, Republic of Korea
Jun-hwa Hong: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon 35233, Republic of Korea
Myung-haeng Hur: College of Nursing, University of Eulji, Uijeongbu 11759, Republic of Korea
Eun-young Seo: Department of Nursing, Gyeongbuk College of Health, Gimcheon 39525, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Background: This study is a preliminary study to examine the effect of a virtual reality exercise program (VREP) on type 2 diabetes patients. Method: This is a randomized controlled trial for patients with type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5%), diagnosed by a specialist. The virtual reality environment was set up by attaching an IoT sensor to an indoor bicycle and linking it with a smartphone, enabling exercise in an immersive virtual reality through a head-mounted display. The VREP was implemented three times a week, for two weeks. The blood glucose, body composition, and exercise immersion were analyzed at baseline, and two weeks before and after the experimental intervention. Result: After VREP application, the mean blood glucose (F = 12.001 p < 0.001) and serum fructosamine (F = 3.274, p = 0.016) were significantly lower in the virtual reality therapy (VRT) and indoor bicycle exercise (IBE) groups than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the body mass index between the three groups; however, the muscle mass of participants in the VRT and IBE groups significantly increased compared with that of the control (F = 4.445, p = 0.003). Additionally, exercise immersion was significantly increased in the VRT group compared with that in the IBE and control groups. Conclusion: A two week VREP had a positive effect on blood glucose, muscle mass, and exercise immersion in patients with type 2 diabetes, and is highly recommended as an effective intervention for blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: virtual reality; exercise; diabetes; blood glucose; fructosamine; body mass index; immersion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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