Enabling Immersive Exercise Activities for Older Adults: A Comparison of Virtual Reality Exergames and Traditional Video Exercises

Lucie Kruse, Sukran Karaosmanoglu, Sebastian Rings, Benedikt Ellinger and Frank Steinicke
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Lucie Kruse: Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, 22527 Hamburg, Germany
Sukran Karaosmanoglu: Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, 22527 Hamburg, Germany
Sebastian Rings: Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, 22527 Hamburg, Germany
Benedikt Ellinger: Statistisches Bundesamt—IT Kompetenzzentrum Auswertung und Analyse, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany
Frank Steinicke: Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, 22527 Hamburg, Germany

Societies, 2021, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: Participating in cognitive and physical activities can help older adults to live a healthy and independent life. However, with the ongoing pandemic, face-to-face training options became unavailable or limited, yielding a need for alternatives. In this paper, we conducted a user study with older adults ( N = 25) to compare a traditional, recorded 2D gymnastics video with an immersive virtual reality (VR) exergame. We evaluated the movement and heart rate of the participants, as well as their enjoyment, attention to the task, and perceived workload. In the VR condition, we additionally assessed their feeling of cybersickness. Finally, qualitative feedback about their preferences was collected. The results indicate that our immersive VR exergame can be a suitable alternative, but not a replacement for traditional 2D video-based exercise activities. Furthermore, the cognitive aspect of exergames can lead to the feeling of physical workload, even if easy movements are performed. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results for future VR exergames and point out advantages and disadvantages of the systems.

Keywords: virtual reality; exergame; older adults; video exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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