Abstract
BackgroundEarlier studies evaluated the physiological responses to video games in children with different clinical conditions; however, no study has compared active video games with an incremental field test in healthy children. The purpose of this study was to verify the agreement between the 20-m shuttle run test (20 m-SRT) and virtual system (VS).MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of 235 children (9.0 ± 0.8 years, 109 boys). The two tests were performed one week apart and the children were instructed not to engage in any physical exercise or sports in the 24 h preceding each test. Their resting heart rate was monitored for one minute and then throughout the tests. To evaluate the influence of motivation on the 20 m SRT and (VS), at the end of the tests the children were asked to rate their motivation on a scale of zero to 10, zero being “not cool” and 10 “awesome”. Perceived exertion at the end of the tests was assessed using the modified Borg scale.ResultsMaximum heart rate (HRmax) did not differ between the 20 m-SRT and VS (194.4 ± 10.2 bpm vs. 193.2 ± 13.8 bpm, respectively). Both tests were similar for intensity > and < 96% HRmax. The children showed greater exertion on the Borg scale and motivation during the VS. The multiple logistic regression model showed that motivation (p = 0.98), sex (p = 0.53), age (p = 0.61), nutritional status (p = 0.65), and speed (p = 0.18) were not predictive factors of the child’s reaching HRmax.ConclusionVS can be used as a tool to evaluate the intensity of maximal exercise tests, given that the percentage of children who achieved HRmax did not differ between the VS and 20 m SRT. The perceived exertion scales were correlated, but only the modified Borg scale correlated with HRmax in the 20 m SRT. The tests are motivational, and most children obtained the maximum VS score.
Highlights
Earlier studies evaluated the physiological responses to video games in children with different clinical conditions; no study has compared active video games with an incremental field test in healthy children
A total of 235 children were included in the study, 118 and 117 of whom started on the virtual system (VS) and 20 m-20-m shuttle run test (SRT), respectively
The children’s performance between the 20 m-SRT and VS tests showed no difference in Maximum heart rate (HRmax) (p = 0.18)
Summary
Earlier studies evaluated the physiological responses to video games in children with different clinical conditions; no study has compared active video games with an incremental field test in healthy children. Interactive video games, known as Virtual System (VS) [1], have been used for rehabilitation in different areas, such as geriatrics [2], neurology [3,4,5] and pediatrics [6,7,8]. The latest systematic reviews [12, 18] of studies on children playing interactive video games have shown an association between an increase in exercise intensity from mild to moderate and a rise in HR. It is still unknown whether VS promotes vigorous intensity during a field test, such as the 20-m shuttle run test (20 m-SRT). Created in 1982 by Luc Léger et al, it was modified and validated in 1984 and is currently recommended for children and adolescents by several specialists in the area [19,20,21,22]
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