Virtual Reality During Exercise Testing

Virtual Reality Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of Virtual Reality on Cardiorespiratory Fitness Test Results

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06464406
• Other study ID #: 2130870
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 7, 2024
• Est. completion date: October 7, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: June 2024
• Source: Augusta University
• Contact: Andrew R Moore, PhD
• Phone: 650-477-7746
• Email: andmoore[@]augusta.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore the effects of virtual reality use on maximal aerobic exercise test performance (aerobic capacity) in healthy adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does using a virtual reality program during a maximal aerobic exercise test lead to differences in VO2peak (maximal aerobic capacity)? and,

• Does using a virtual reality program during a maximal aerobic exercise test lead to differences in work rate at the ventilatory threshold?

Participants will complete a maximal aerobic exercise test two times (separated by 1 week of recovery) under the following conditions:

• normal testing conditions in a lab

• while viewing a virtual reality video

Researchers will compare the test results of both conditions to see if the use of a virtual reality program alters VO2peak or the ventilatory threshold.

Description:

Virtual reality imparts a dissociative effect on users during exercise, such that the physical activity task is experienced as more enjoyable and pleasant, requires less exertion, and requires less physiological function for a given submaximal work rate.

This array of positive effects may be particularly advantageous during a maximal aerobic exercise test, mainly because participant motivation and negative psychological state often lead to premature test termination. Ameliorating the unpleasantness of this type of exercise test with the use of virtual reality technology may prolong effort expenditure during the test and result in superior performance compared to a control condition.

Additionally, improving physiological function at submaximal work rates may lead to alterations in other important testing outcomes, particularly the ventilatory threshold. The ventilatory threshold is used as a reference point for prescribing exercise intensity. An intervention that modifies this value would have repercussions for physical fitness practitioners who prescribe exercise intensity relative to the ventilatory threshold.

The general purpose of this study is to determine the effect of virtual reality on maximal aerobic exercise test performance in healthy adults. The specific questions it aims to answer are:

• Does using a virtual reality program during a maximal aerobic exercise test lead to differences in VO2peak (maximal aerobic capacity)? and,

• Does using a virtual reality program during a maximal aerobic exercise test lead to differences in work rate at the ventilatory threshold?

Secondary questions this study aims to answer include:

Does using a virtual reality program during a maximal aerobic exercise test lead to differences in

• exercise test time?

• maximal heart rate during the exercise test?

• maximal respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during the exercise test?

• heart rate (HR) at the ventilatory threshold?

• RER at the ventilatory threshold?

• psychological response [rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and affective valence] throughout the exercise test?

To address these aims, participants will complete the same maximal aerobic exercise test on a cycler ergometer under normal laboratory conditions (Control) and when viewing an immersive virtual reality video (VR). The two tests will be completed in a randomized and counterbalanced order to account for learning or familiarity effects, and will be separated by 1 week to account for the effects of testing fatigue.

Respiratory data, HR, RPE, and affective valence were collected during the exercise tests to address the aims of the study.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 24
• Est. completion date: October 7, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: October 7, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

-

Exclusion Criteria:

• Answering "YES" to one or more items on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).

• Women who are pregnant at the time of participation according to a pregnancy test.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Virtual Reality

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Virtual Reality condition
Participants will watch a video on a virtual reality headset during the completion of the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test.
• Control condition
Participants will complete the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test under control conditions without video, music, or other distractions.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Augusta University	Augusta	Georgia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Augusta University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	VO2peak	The highest level of oxygen uptake averaged over a 20-second period.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Primary	Ventilatory threshold	The work load (in Watts) during the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test at which breakpoints are identified between metabolic measures associated with the ventilatory threshold (CO2 production and O2 utilization; ventilatory equivalent for O2 and O2 utilization; and excess CO2 production).	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Peak power	The work load (in Watts) of the highest exercise test stage that was completed	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Total test time	The duration of the test (in minutes), not including the warm-up.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	RPE	Rating of Perceived Exertion measured from 0 (no perceived exertion) to 10 (maximal perceived exertion).	Assessed throughout the exercise test for each condition (at the end of the warm-up and end of every even-numbered stage)..
Secondary	Affective Valence	Affective valence measured from -5 (feeling very bad) to +5 (feeling very good).	Assessed throughout the exercise test for each condition (at the end of the warm-up and end of every even-numbered stage)..
Secondary	%VO2peak at ventilatory threshold	The percentage of VO2peak at which the ventilatory threshold was reached.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Heart rate at ventilatory threshold	The heart rate corresponding to the time that the ventilatory threshold was reached.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Heart rate at VO2peak	The heart rate (in beats per minute) at which VO2peak was reached.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) at VO2peak	The proportion of carbon dioxide production to oxygen consumption when VO2peak was reached.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.
Secondary	Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) at ventilatory threshold	The proportion of carbon dioxide production to oxygen consumption when the ventilatory threshold was reached.	Assessed during the exercise test for each condition.