Researchers from Staffordshire University and Federal University of Vale do Sao Francisco urge caution for people with type-1 diabetes when using fitness video games, also known as ‘exergames.’
Their study reveals that these games may alter the perception of fatigue, posing potential risks for this group.
Study on Exercise Intensity in Real vs. Virtual Sessions
The study aimed to understand how people with type-1 diabetes perceive exertion during traditional and virtual exercises. Patients typically gauge their exercise intensity on a scale from 1-10, a method effective in traditional exercises.
The research team, including Dr. Pooya Soltani of Staffordshire University, investigated whether this scale is also reliable for exercises involving video games.
In the trial, type-1 diabetes patients engaged in two 30-minute moderate-intensity exercise sessions, one involving running and the other playing the Kinect Adventures! video game.
The researchers measured the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) using the 6-20 point Borg scale, alongside physiological metrics like metabolic equivalent (MET), oxygen consumption, and heart rate.
Co-author Jorge Luiz de Brito Gomes noted that while RPE and MET values correlated strongly in real exercise, this correlation was only moderate during virtual sessions.
Other metabolic and physiological variables during virtual exercise were mostly low and lacked statistical significance.
Implications for Type-1 Diabetes Patients
This finding suggests that the 6-20 point RPE scale, an older measurement tool, may not accurately reflect the intensity of virtual exercises.
Consequently, people with type-1 diabetes might underestimate the exertion level in exergames, leading to inadequate blood glucose control.
The researchers recommend adapting traditional exertion scales to align with modern virtual gaming platforms. Dr. Soltani emphasizes that while active video games and virtual reality can motivate and increase adherence to physical activity, the current RPE scale needs an update for safe usage.
Caution for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals are advised to use subjective measures like the RPE scale cautiously when incorporating virtual exercise sessions into treatment plans for patients with type-1 diabetes.
The goal is to ensure that these patients can safely benefit from the motivational aspects of immersive games without compromising their health.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about new way to achieve type 2 diabetes remission, and one avocado a day keeps diabetes at bay.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about 5 dangerous signs you have diabetes-related eye disease, and results showing why pomegranate is super fruit for people with diabetes.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.
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