Innovative exergaming program for antenatal exercise: Pregnant women's views and experiences

Exergames are an emerging technology that employ interactive exercise-based video gaming with the aim to encourage physical activity. Exergames have been shown to encourage increased exercise participation in the non-pregnant population. However, the acceptability to pregnant women has not previously been explored.

The aim of this study was to explore pregnant women's views and experiences of using a home-based exergaming intervention designed specifically for pregnancy.

This study was a part of a multidisciplinary feasibility project investigating the feasibility of using an exergaming program to encourage physical activity in pregnancy. A qualitative study design was adopted using semi-structured interviews. Twelve pregnant women who completed a home-based exergaming program designed for pregnancy using the Nintendo Switch™, from 16 to 36 weeks of gestation, participated in interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis methods.

The women participants found that the exergame programs were enjoyable, convenient, motivating and easy to use during pregnancy. The interactive nature of exergames was particularly appealing and they valued the ability to exercise at home. They suggested that future exergames designed and developed for pregnant women could incorporate more of a variety of exercise options that are specifically tailored for pregnancy.

Exergame exercise programs were found to be enjoyable, and convenient for pregnant women participants. Our findings suggest exergames as a promising approach for encouraging regular exercise and addressing barriers to physical activity during pregnancy.