Verification of the Effects of Exercise on the Body and Mind Using a Boxing Glove-Type Sensory Augmentation Device

Abstract

The background of this study is the increased number of people lacking exercise owing to the rise in remote work since the outbreak of the new coronavirus infection. As exercise is strongly linked to mental health, a lack of physical activity leads to an increase in psychological stress among individuals. Currently, few devices are available that can accurately evaluate exercise movements and allow people to engage in casual workouts. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of boxing training on the body and mind by using a sensory augmentation device with a high amusement factor. The sensory augmentation device used in this study was designed for boxing, a high-intensity full-body exercise. Inertial sensors were placed on the wrist of the boxing glove to determine the type and power of the punching action. The device then produces sound, vibration, and light according to according to the force used to give the punching action a more spectacular appearance. We measured mental and physical states during amusement-oriented training using this boxing glove-type sensory enhancer and evaluated its effects. The results demonstrated that training with a sensory augmentation device led to heightened motor induction and increased positive emotions. This suggests that the production of sound, vibration, or light influences the reward circuits of the emotional system. Potential applications of this technology include exploring its effectiveness in various exercise movements to determine its impact on physical and mental well-being.