Virtual Reality During Exercise Testing

NCT ID: NCT06464406

Last Updated: 2024-06-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-06-07
• Study Completion Date: 2024-10-07

Brief 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.

Detailed 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.

Conditions

Virtual Reality

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control condition completed first

In this arm, the Control condition (traditional maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test) will be completed first, and the Virtual Reality condition (traditional maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test with the addition of virtual reality video) will be completed second.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality condition

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will watch a video on a virtual reality headset during the completion of the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test.

Control condition

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test under control conditions without video, music, or other distractions.

Virtual Reality condition completed first

In this arm, the Virtual Reality condition (traditional maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test with the addition of virtual reality video) will be completed first, and the Control condition (traditional maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test) will be completed second.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality condition

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will watch a video on a virtual reality headset during the completion of the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test.

Control condition

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test under control conditions without video, music, or other distractions.

Interventions

Virtual Reality condition

Participants will watch a video on a virtual reality headset during the completion of the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Control condition

Participants will complete the maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test under control conditions without video, music, or other distractions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Augusta University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Andrew Moore

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Andrew R Moore, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Augusta University

Locations

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Andrew R Moore, PhD

Role: CONTACT

andmoore@augusta.edu

650-477-7746

Facility Contacts

Andrew R Moore, PhD

Role: primary

andmoore@augusta.edu

650-477-7746

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

2130870

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id