Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Activity and energy expenditure in older people playing active video games

journal contribution
posted on 2012-12-01, 00:00 authored by L M Taylor, Ralph MaddisonRalph Maddison, L A Pfaeffli, Jonathan RawstornJonathan Rawstorn, N Gant, N M Kerse
OBJECTIVES: To quantify energy expenditure in older adults playing interactive video games while standing and seated, and secondarily to determine whether participants' balance status influenced the energy cost associated with active video game play. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University research center. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults (N=19) aged 70.7±6.4 years. INTERVENTION: Participants played 9 active video games, each for 5 minutes, in random order. Two games (boxing and bowling) were played in both seated and standing positions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Energy expenditure was assessed using indirect calorimetry while at rest and during game play. Energy expenditure was expressed in kilojoules per minute and metabolic equivalents (METs). Balance was assessed using the mini-BESTest, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). RESULTS: Mean ± SD energy expenditure was significantly greater for all game conditions compared with rest (all P≤.01) and ranged from 1.46±.41 METs to 2.97±1.16 METs. There was no significant difference in energy expenditure, activity counts, or perceived exertion between equivalent games played while standing and seated. No significant correlations were observed between energy expenditure or activity counts and balance status. CONCLUSIONS: Active video games provide light-intensity exercise in community-dwelling older people, whether played while seated or standing. People who are unable to stand may derive equivalent benefits from active video games played while seated. Further research is required to determine whether sustained use of active video games alters physical activity levels in community settings for this population.

History

Journal

Archives of physical medicine rehabilitation

Volume

93

Issue

12

Pagination

2281 - 2286

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

eISSN

1532-821X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine