Efficacy of Exercise Videogames for Physical Activity Adoption and Maintenance

Lifespan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Behavioral: Exercise Video Games; Behavioral: Home Standard Exercise; Behavioral: Home exercise videogames

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03298919

R01HL109116 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

203711

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a 3-arm trial to compare exercise videogames versus traditional standard exercise using stationary bikes and treadmills versus a control condition. Results will examine minutes of physical activity at 12 weeks and 6 month follow up between conditions. We will also examine changes in indicators of cardiovascular health (e.g., body mass index, lipids) and changes in psychological factors that may be predictive of continued exercise engagement.

Full description

To test the efficacy of a 12-week supervised, laboratory based program of an exercise videogame (EVG) program to increase time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and improve cardiovascular health and fitness indices compared to Standard and Control programs. Participants will be randomly assigned to (1) a supervised program of Exercise Videogames (EVG); (2) a supervised standard exercise program (Standard), using aerobic exercise equipment (e.g., treadmill, stationary bike); or (3) a Control condition. We will also examine the effect of home-based exercise videogames compared to a home-based standard PA program on MVPA maintenance during the 6-month follow up period. We will examine changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., estimated VO2max), blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition and blood lipids at baseline, week 12 and at 6-months follow up. We will also examine changes in theoretically-based cognitive and affective constructs associated with physical activity including: enjoyment, outcome expectations, self-efficacy, motivation, and goal-orientation.

Enrollment: 283 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age > 18,
• In generally good health
• No medical conditions that would interfere with exercise
• Currently engaging in less than 60 minutes of physical activity per week

Exclusion criteria

• body mass index over 40
• current or planned pregnancy
• hospitalization from a physical or mental disorder in the past 6 months
• hypertension (defined as: blood pressure ≥ 140/90)
• anti-hypertensive medication
• medications that may impair physical activity tolerance (e.g., beta blockers)
• current cardiovascular disease
• current pulmonary disease
• diabetes
• thyroid disorders
• renal or liver disease
• orthopedic conditions that would prevent or limit exercise

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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283 participants in 3 patient groups

Exercise Videogames

Experimental group

Description:

Exercise videogames 3 times weekly for 12 weeks followed by 6 months of home practice

Treatment:

Behavioral: Home exercise videogames

Behavioral: Exercise Video Games

Standard Exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

Exercise using aerobic equipment such as stationary bikes and treadmills 3 times weekly for 12 weeks followed by home practice

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise

Behavioral: Home Standard Exercise

Wellness Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Weekly mailings on general health and wellness topics for 12 weeks followed by monthly mailings for 6 months.