Ready Exerciser One: Effects of Music and Virtual Reality on Cycle Ergometer Exercise

Objectives: Physical inactivity remains a major global health
concern and researchers have been encouraged to explore the role of technology
in the promotion of physical activity. Technologies that deliver audio-visual
stimuli are frequently applied in the exercise domain. However, there is a
paucity of research that examines the efficacy of modern virtual reality (VR)
technology in this context. We investigated the effects of VR and music on affective,
perceptual, enjoyment, and cardiac responses to aerobic-type exercise. Design:
A fully counterbalanced, within-subjects design was employed. Methods: A
convenience sample of recreationally active adult volunteers (N = 24) completed
a 12-min protocol during which they exercised under music, VR, VR-with-music,
and control conditions. Results: Analyses indicated a Condition × Time
interaction for affective valence and perceived activation. Moreover, a main
effect of condition emerged for state attention and perceived enjoyment. The VR
and VR-with-music conditions elicited the most positive affective valence, highest
levels of perceived activation, greatest number of dissociative thoughts, and most
exercise enjoyment. Differences between these two conditions
were negligible across the breadth of dependent variables. Conclusions: The present findings
illustrate the efficacy of modern VR technology in the exercise context, applied both with and without musical
accompaniment. Additional research
is required to assess the degree to which the findings are replicable among sedentary
or ageing segments of the population. Given the emerging support pertaining to
a positive relationship between affective responses and exercise adherence, VR
technology should be considered as a means by which to promote an enjoyable
exercise experience.