Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Improving aerobic capacity through active videogames: A randomized controlled trial

Melhora da capacidade aeróbica através de videogames ativos: Um estudo controlado randomizado

Mejora en la capacidad aeróbica a través de juegos de vídeo activos: un estudio controlado seleccionado al azar

Abstract

The rate of peak workload improvement between different types of Active Video Games (AVG) in young sedentary adults was investigated. Aerobic capacity improvement after a 6-week intervention between AVG types was also compared. Twenty participants, after baseline assessments, were randomized into one of three parallel groups: structured AVG (n = 6), unstructured AVG (n = 7) and a control group (n = 7). Participants played their respective AVG 3 times a week for 6-weeks (30 minutes-session). The control group maintained normal activities. Both structured and unstructured AVG improved peak workload after four weeks but only the structured group maintained this improvement through week five and six. Aerobic capacity improved in the unstructured (Pre: 36.0 ± 5.2ml.kg.min-¹,Post: 39.7 ± 4.9ml.kg.min-¹, p = .038) and structured AVG (Pre: 39.0 ± 5.9ml.kg.min-¹,Post: 47.8 ± 4.3ml.kg.min-¹, p = .006) groups. Structured AVG provide greater health benefits to aerobic capacity and peak workload in young sedentary but otherwise healthy males relative to unstructured AVG.

Keywords:
exercise; videogames; physical fitness

Universidade Estadual Paulista Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24-A, 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP/Brasil, Tel.: (55 19) 3526-4330 - Rio Claro - SP - Brazil
E-mail: motriz.rc@unesp.br