NCT06679348

Exploring Physiological Responses of Virtual Reality Walking Exercise Versus Treadmill Walking in Healthy Individuals

Comparison of Physiological Responses of Virtual Reality Walking Exercise Compared to Walking Performed on Treadmills in Healthy Individuals

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Atlas University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aimed to systematically compare the physiological responses generated by walking exercises conducted in a VR environment versus those performed on a treadmill, with a specific focus on their impacts on the autonomic nervous system and fatigue levels

Detailed description

This study was designed as a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. It was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, adhering to ethical principles for medical research involving human participants. Faculty of health sciences students from İstanbul Atlas University were invited to participate in this study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: aged between 18 and 25 years; classified as inactive or minimally active according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire score; voluntary consent to participate; and a body mass index (BMI) of ≤30 kg/m². Participants were excluded from the study if they met any of the following conditions: presence of visual, auditory, vestibular, or neurological deficits; a history of inflammatory diseases, surgeries, or cancer; any cardiopulmonary disorders, including asthma, within the last six months; major musculoskeletal injuries sustained within the last six months; other health issues that could compromise safety during exercise; or conditions known to affect autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, such as diabetes mellitus or autonomic neuropathy or current smoking status or failure to adhere to the experimental procedures of our study. Our study comprehensively examines the effects of virtual reality (VR) walking exercise and traditional treadmill walking on autonomic nervous system (ANS) and fatigue levels during recovery. Investigations into the physiological responses elicited by VR exercise interventions underscore a critical gap in our understanding of how VR modalities produce distinct responses compared with conventional exercise forms, particularly treadmill walking.

Conditions

• Autonomous Nervous System
• Fatigue

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	walking exercise on treadmill	The study included two intervention groups, consisting of participants who met the inclusion criteria and adhered to the experimental procedures. One group will do treadmill walking exercises, while the other will do treadmill walking exercises using virtual reality (VR). Both interventions were conducted in a single session, with each group participating in a 20-minute walking exercise session at a moderate intensity, as identified by other studies.
OTHER	Treadmill walking exercise using VR	Walking on the treadmill with the Free Run game on the Nintendo Wii allows users to walk at 5 miles per hour for 20 minutes. The user gets on the Wii Balance Board and starts walking in the virtual environment after running the application. The application detects the user's movements and controls the progress of the virtual character. During this experience, users increase their motivation by encountering various landscapes while tracking their performance and getting information about the calories they spend. This setup provides a fun, game-like atmosphere for a realistic walking experience.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-01
• Primary completion: 2024-12-18
• Completion: 2024-12-18
• First posted: 2024-11-07
• Last updated: 2024-12-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)