Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(01): 77-82
DOI: 10.1055/a-1520-4742
Training & Testing

The New Way to Exercise? Evaluating an Innovative Heart-rate-controlled Exergame

1   Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
,
Lisa Röglin
1   Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
,
Eva Kircher
2   Internal Medicine, Charité Medical Faculty Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
AnnaLisa Martin-Niedecken
3   Department of Design, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Reinhard Ketelhut
2   Internal Medicine, Charité Medical Faculty Berlin, Berlin, Germany
4   Cardiology - Sports Medicine, Medical Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
Kuno Hottenrott
1   Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
,
Kerstin Ketelhut
5   Natural Sciences, MSB Medical School Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Exergames may offer novel opportunities to expand physical activity. Most games, however, only result in low to moderate-intensity activities that are too low to allow relevant physical adjustments. In the present study, the exercise intensity of a new, heart rate controlled, functional fitness game was assessed. 28 subjects (aged 24.8±3.8 yrs; 46% female; BMI 23.2±2.3 kg/m2) were enrolled in this study. VO2max and maximal heart rate (HRmax) were assessed during a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill and compared with the oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) during a game in the ExerCube.

In the ExerCube, the subjects reached a peak HR of 187.43±9.22 bpm, which corresponds to 96.57±3.64% of their HRmax. The mean HR throughout the game was 167.11±10.94 bpm, corresponding to 86.07±4.33% of HRmax. VO2peak reached 41.57±5.09 ml/kg/min during the game in the ExerCube, which corresponds to 84.75±7.52% of VO2max. The mean VO2 consumption during the game reached 32.39±4.04 ml/kg/min, which corresponds to 66.01±5.09% of VO2max. The ExerCube provides a form of vigorous physical exercise. Due to its playful, immersive, and motivating nature, the ExerCube seems to be a promising tool to facilitate physical activity.



Publication History

Received: 13 January 2021

Accepted: 17 May 2021

Article published online:
12 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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