Acute intensity and motivation to play: comparison of structured and unstructured active video games - a pilot study

Objective: To compare intensity (heart rate, oxygen consumption, and perceived exertion) and motivation to play between AVG types (unstructured, UNS-AVG and structured, S-AVG). Methods: A Pre-test-Post-test experimental study with randomized counterbalanced groups (UNS- and S-AVG type) was performed at the laboratory. Eight male young adults [Mean (SD), age: 19(1) years, body mass index: 23.1(2.4) kg/m²] volunteered to participate in this study. Participants underwent a diagnostic evaluation for health status, anthropometric, cardiovascular and metabolic measures. After this, they were paired according to oxygen consumption levels and randomly assigned to each group and performed a 30-min AVG session (UNS-AVG: Kinect Sports Boxing game or S-AVG: Nike Kinect Training game). Heart rate (HR) was recorded during all AVG session. At the end of the session, motivation to play and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were self-reported. Oxygen consumption estimated for the AVG session was obtained by linear regression line from HR reached during the game and maximal HR during the test session. Unpaired t-test was used to compare game type groups (P<0.05). Moreover, effect size (ES) was calculated using Cohen’s d statistic. Results: Average HR (%Δ=7.1, P=0.025, ES=0.76) and oxygen consumption estimated (%Δ=69.5, P=0.002, ES=3.63) during the sessions were greater for S-AVG compared to UNS-AVG. Motivation to play was similar between groups (%Δ=18.2, P=0.685, ES=0.72). RPE was greater for S-AVG compared to UNS-AVG group (%Δ=20.6, P=0.045, ES=1.85). Conclusion: S-AVG type requires more physical exertion than UNS-AVG; however, these AVG types can be used interchangeably if the goal is motivation. Due to the strong correlation between the HR and oxygen consumption for both AVG types, this data suggests that S-AVG may be a better tool to exercise and probably contribute to reducing sedentary lifestyle more than UNS-AVG in young adults.