Abstract
Exergames are now often implemented among older adults for health purposes. This study aimed to investigate whether playing Kinect and Wii exergames has effects on older adults’ physical fitness and psychological perceptions towards exergames. A total of 23 older participants aged above 60 years were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups, in which they played either Kinect or Wii Bowling exergames for three sessions in one week. Physiological and psychological measures were collected including heart rate, blood pressure, shoulder flexibility, as well as perceived benefits and intentions for future use. Findings indicated that exergames are equivalent to light-intensity exercises, and hence pose no or minimal risk to older adults. Older adults had a positive attitude towards exergames and have a strong willingness to engage in exergaming on a regular basis. Although no significant platform difference was identified, observation and qualitative findings suggested that Wii might provide a more intense physical activity than Kinect, while Kinect might obtain a higher perception among older adults than Wii. The study has several practical implications for both health professionals and exergame designers targeting the ageing population.
Highlights
The direct benefit of this study was to establish the positive effects of exergaming on heart rate, blood pressure, and shoulder flexibility
The study examined whether Kinect and Wii bowling games have different influences on older adults’ physical fitness and psychological perception towards exergames
The findings were consistent with previous studies which indicated that exergaming has elicited light-to-moderate intensity activity among other populations, such as overweight individuals [36], adolescents [37], and college students [38]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The issue of an ageing population characterized by both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rate has been a growing concern among researchers and policymakers [1]. With people living ever longer, the challenge is to focus on research that allows the elderly not just to survive, and to stay healthy [2]
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