Actual vs. perceived exertion during active virtual reality game exercise.

Area of Science:

• Exercise Science
• Virtual Reality Technology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Active virtual reality games (AVRGs) are increasingly utilized for health and fitness.
• Previous research indicates AVRGs can achieve moderate to vigorous exercise intensities.
• Dissociative attention during AVRGs may create a discrepancy between perceived and actual exertion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare actual exertion (AEx) with perceived exertion (PEx) during AVRG gameplay.
• To measure heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in two distinct settings.
• To analyze exertion levels across different AVRGs.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two participants (age 22.6 ± 2.6) played three AVRGs (Fruit Ninja VR, Beat Saber, Holopoint) for 10 minutes each.
• Data were collected in both a laboratory setting (LabS) and a gymnasium setting (GymS) using HTC VIVE.
• Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded during gameplay.

Main Results:

• Actual exertion was significantly higher than perceived exertion for all tested AVRGs.
• Holopoint resulted in the highest actual exertion (Somewhat Hard), while Fruit Ninja VR and Beat Saber were rated as Light.
• Participants in the GymS reported significantly higher actual and perceived exertion compared to those in the LabS.

Conclusions:

• Perceived exertion during AVRGs may underestimate the actual physiological effort.
• The environment in which AVRGs are played can influence both actual and perceived exertion levels.
• Findings can inform the design of VR exercise programs and the development of the metaverse for fitness applications.