Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39773879›Full record

ArticleJMIR serious games2025

Virtual Reality High-Intensity Interval Training Exergaming Compared to Traditional High-Intensity Circuit Training Among Medical Students: Pilot Crossover Study.

Pietro Merola, Marcos Barros Cardoso, Gabriel Barreto, Matheus Carvalho Chagas, Luana Farias Oliveira Saunders, Bryan Saunders, Danilo Cortozi Berton

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR serious games, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pietro MerolaMove Sapiens, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9819-3100
Marcos Barros CardosoMedical School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4726-2273
Gabriel BarretoApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1613-9416
Matheus Carvalho ChagasMove Sapiens, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9598-0159
Luana Farias Oliveira SaundersApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8225-5784
Bryan SaundersApplied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0995-9077
Danilo Cortozi BertonHospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8393-3126

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) high-intensity interval training (HIIT) boxing protocol compared to traditional high-intensity circuit training (HICT) in improving exercise motivation, engagement, and physiological responses among 30 healthy medical students. Objective: The purpose was to compare the VR HIIT protocol, which involved using an Oculus Quest 2 for a futuristic exoskeleton game experience, with a traditional 12-exercise HICT. Methods: In total, 30 medical students engaged in both VR HIIT, using an Oculus Quest 2 for a futuristic exoskeleton game experience, and a traditional 12-exercise HICT. Metrics included heart rate (HR) and blood lactate levels before and after exercise alongside ratings of perceived exertion and the Situational Motivation Scale. Results: VR HIIT showed significantly higher mean HR (mean 161, SD 15 vs mean 144, SD 11 bpm; d=1.5; P<.001), peak HR (mean 182, SD 15 vs mean 176, SD 11 bpm; d=0.8; P=.001), and ratings of perceived exertion (mean 16, SD 2 vs mean 15, SD 2; d=0.4; P=.03). Postexercise lactate levels were higher in HICT (mean 8.8, SD 4.5 vs mean 10.6, SD 3.0 mmol/L; d=0.6; P=.006). Intrinsic motivation and other psychological measures showed no significant differences, except for lower fatigue in HICT (d=0.5; P=.02). Conclusions: VR HIIT significantly enhances physiological parameters while maintaining intrinsic motivation, making it a viable alternative to traditional HICT. However, the short-term nature of this study is a limitation, and future research should explore the long-term engagement and therapeutic impacts of VR exercise in diverse and clinical populations.

Indexed as

exerciseexercise motivationexergameheart ratehigh-intensity interval trainingphysical activityvirtual realityVR

Identifiers

PMID39773879
PMCPMC11731695

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.