Virtual Reality Serves as a Support Technology in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Abstract

A b st r a ctThe purpose of this study was to develop a virtual cycling system and examine the in uence of virtual reality (VR) on test performance during clinical exercise testing. We aimed to compare the physiological responses of the cardiovascular and ventilatory systems during incremental exercise testing with or without VR, and to measure VR effects on the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and cycling duration throughout the test.Twelve healthy senior citizens (ten men and two women) with a mean age of 74.5 6 4.7 years participated in the study. The codes of behavior for this study included a maximum graded exercise tolerance test, a submaximal endurance VR exercise, and a submaximal endurance non-VR exercise. A friction-braked cycle ergometer was used to conduct the exercise tests. For the subject's movement speed to create an appropriate environment ow on the display screen, the bike was connected to a personal computer. The cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated at both peak and submaximal exertion.The results show that the VR versus non-VR programs did not differ on submaximal and peak exercise responses during the cycling test. However, signi cant differences were observed between the mean values for cycling duration, distance, and energy consumption. The difference between RPE curves for VR and non-VR protocols revealed promising results within 45 min. of cycling (Breslow test, p 5 .06); however, no statistical signi cance was achieved at the test termination (log rank test, p 5 .17).

Does Virtual Reality Enhance Exercise Performance, Enjoyment, and Dissociation? An Exploratory Study on a Stationary Bike Apparatus

“…However, until recently, very few studies examined whether VR stationary exercise bike equipment truly promotes a dissociation attentional focus and enhances enjoyment of the experience. Indeed, few studies have directly tested the effect of a VR setting on affective states and/or performance during indoor cycling (Annesi & Mazas, 1997;Chuang et al, 2003;Huang, Tsai, Sung, Lin, & Chuang, 2008;IJsselsteijn, De Kort, Westerink, De Jaggerand, & Bonants, 2006;Mac Rae, Miller-Perrinand, & Tinberg, 2003;Plante, Aldridge, Ogden, & Hanelin, 2003;Plante, Frazier, et al, 2003). Annesi and Mazas (1997) tested the effect of a 14-week VR exercise bicycle program in a fitness center on adherence and exercise-induced feeling states among 45 adults, aged between 20 and 60 years.…”

“…Finally, few studies have directly tested VR effects on exercise performance. Indeed, in a recent paper Huang et al (2008) report that VR feedback actually enables anaerobic exercise for longer duration by reducing perceived exertion (see also Chuang et al, 2003). However, these two studies were conducted in a rehabilitation (poststroke) context that may not be easily generalized to nonpathologic populations.…”

Motor rehabilitation using virtual reality

“…Chuang et al [38] compared physiological responses of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems during incremental exercise testing with and without VR in healthy older adults. A mechanically braked bicycle was linked to a visual virtual scene projected on a flatscreen display.…”

Are Virtual Environments the New Frontier in Obesity Management?

“…In a similar scenario, researchers demonstrated that if participants' cycling speed was depicted in a biking game on a computer screen in front of them, they reported increased enjoyment and energy and reduced tiredness compared to participants who cycled with no virtual biking game or who just played the virtual biking game (Plante, Aldridge, Bogden, & Hanelin, ). Following up, Chuang and colleagues () demonstrated that participants who exercised while in a VE cycled longer, further, and had more calorie consumption than participants who cycled in a normal environment. Finally, when compared to participants who walked outdoors or walked indoors on a treadmill, participants who walked indoors on a treadmill while a video of the outdoors was projected on a screen in front of them were most relaxed and experienced the least tension (Plante, Cage, Clements, & Stover, ).…”