Virtual Reality Can Improve Performance During Exercise
Using Virtual Reality (VR) headsets while exercising can reduce pain and increase how long someone can sustain an activity, according to new research from the university of Kent. The study set out to determine how using VR while exercising could affect performance.
The Study
80 participants were recruited to this study and were randomly assigned to a VR or a non-VR control group. All participants were required to perform a bicep curl set at 20% of the maximum weight they could lift, which they were then asked to hold for as long as possible.
The control group were asked to complete this exercise inside a room that had a chair, a table and yoga mat on the floor. The VR group were placed in the same room with the same items. They then put on a VR headset and saw the same environment, including a visual representation of an arm and the weight. They then carried out the same lift and hold as the non-VR group.
The Results
The data showed that after a minute the VR group had reported a pain intensity that was 10% lower than the non-VR group. Furthermore the time to exhaustion for the VR group was around two minutes longer than those doing conventional exercise. The VR group also showed a lower heart rate of three beats per minute than the non-VR group.
This research suggests that VR can effectively be used to reduce perceived pain while exercising. Lead researcher Maria Matsangidou said: ‘It is clear from the data gathered that the use of VR technology can improve performance during exercise on a number of criteria. This could have major implications for exercise regimes for everyone, from occasional gym users to professional athletes.’