Exergaming in augmented reality is tailor-made for aerobic training and enjoyment among healthy young adults.

In recent years, the use of exergaming for physical activity practice has gain in popularity but few is known about the use of augmented reality for physical activity, particularly at moderate to vigorous intensities. The present study examined the use of an exergame in augmented reality for aerobic training in healthy young adults. In a within-subject design, 18 participants (19.8 ± 1.4 years of age) have performed two physical activity sessions playing dodgeball. Indeed, they realized a classical dodgeball session and an exergaming session with an augmented reality version of dodgeball game. Physical loads and intensities were measured with accelerometers, RPE and heart sensors. Enjoyment experienced during the sessions was measured with the short version of the physical activity enjoyment scale questionnaire. Results revealed that both physical load and intensity were appropriate for aerobic training in the two conditions (i.e., classical and exergame in augmented reality) although values were significantly higher in the classical condition. Enjoyment was high in the two conditions with a higher significant value in the classical condition compared to the exergame in augmented reality condition. Put together, these results indicate that an aerobic state can be attained through both physical gameplay and its augmented reality equivalent and was associated to a high level of enjoyment among healthy young adults.

Exploring the Health Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Program Co-Constructed with Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: University students have low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviors that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, there was poor uptake of university sports activities. Therefore, it is essential to develop and test innovative programs to increase students' motivation to engage in physical activity in order to prevent any future deterioration in their general health. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a physical activity program that was co-constructed with students. METHODS: First, a workshop drawing on social design methodologies and the fundamentals of physical activity programs was conducted to assess students' needs and desires in terms of physical activity. Second, the effectiveness of a program co-constructed with students on the basis of this workshop was assessed on physical and mental health parameters. The results showed that the workshop outcomes allowed the physical activity program to be tailored to meet students' expectations (e.g., session duration and type of activities). This innovative physical activity program was found to improve body image, autonomous motivation, and certain physical parameters. At the end of the 8-week program, the adherence rate was 89%, and 83% of the final respondents expressed a wish to re-enroll for the following semester. CONCLUSIONS: Involving students and considering their wishes, needs, and objectives could facilitate the development of attractive and innovative programs.

Influence of negative stereotype on physical activity level among older adults during a training session.

The present research examined the effect of a negative stereotype induction on older adults' physical activity level, measured objectively and subjectively. Twenty older adults (18 women and two men; Mage = 67.4, SDage = 4.4) were assigned to a control condition, a neutral condition and a negative stereotype condition during three separate visits (i.e., within-subject design). In each physical activity session, participants performed the same training. Objective physical activity level was the time spent at moderate to vigorous intensity measured by accelerometry and subjective physical activity level was measured with the RPE-session method. Inactivity time was also objectively assessed. Results revealed no effect of the different conditions on objective physical activity level, but subjective physical activity level and inactivity time were lower in the neutral condition and in the negative stereotype condition compared to the control condition. It was suggested that when a negative stereotype is induced, participants perceived the task as less intense compared to the control condition, which result in less inactivity time, suggesting that the negative stereotype had a positive influence on physical activity. Another interesting result was that effects were similar in the negative stereotype condition and in the neutral condition, revealing that the neutral condition might not be a control condition. While these results are not in line with the stereotype threat literature, they echo previous recent studies also showing a positive effect of a negative stereotype induction, calling into question the stereotype threat theory.

Promoting Physical Activity Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitary context and e-learning have greatly modified student lifestyles and led to deteriorations in their mental health. An increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms and sedentary behaviors, reduction in physical activity, and a stronger tendency to move toward unhealthy diet have been demonstrated. This finding highlights the need for innovative interventions to promote healthy lifestyle among students. OBJECTIVE: This research protocol aims to evaluate the effects of an intervention program on the lifestyle and psychological state of students. METHODS: Students from University of Nîmes were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 following conditions: an intervention group and a control group. Participants in the intervention group were engaged in an 8-week physical activity program. Prior to the start of the program, design-based innovative workshops were conducted with participants to ensure that the program was co-constructed by the users and met their specific needs. Students in the control group did not receive any intervention. For each group, measures of physical activity, sedentary time, anthropometric data, sleep, physical condition, and psychological variables (eg, anxiety, depression, motivation, body appreciation, perceived control, well-being) were conducted at baseline and 9 weeks later. RESULTS: A total of 110 participants were initially included. Reporting of the results is projected for the spring of 2022. CONCLUSIONS: It is anticipated that this innovative intervention co-constructed by pairs will promote a healthier lifestyle and psychological health in students. There is every reason to believe that a mobilized co-construction approach is a promising strategy to limit unhealthy habits and promote physical activity while increasing motivation. The development and evaluation of interventions to address the specific needs of university students is essential and could be transferred to other vulnerable populations such as people with chronic diseases or older people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05019482; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05019482. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/36429.

Does the time of day differently impact the effects of an exercise program on postural control in older subjects? A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The time of day that people exercise can potentially influence the efficiency of exercises for fall prevention in older adults. The present pilot study was conducted to explore the feasibility and effects of morning versus afternoon exercising on postural control in institutionalized older adults. METHODS: Nine older adults completed a 3-month multimodal exercise program in its entirety (14 participants were recruited at the beginning and were initially randomly separated into two groups). One group exercised in the morning (ME; n = 4) and the other in the afternoon (AE; n = 5). Postural control was assessed with a force platform at pre and post-intervention at the following times: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. RESULTS: Postural control significantly improved only in the AE group post-intervention. Improvements in postural control in the AE group were mainly observed in the morning. CONCLUSIONS: The afternoon would be the best period to implement exercise sessions dedicated to improve postural control in older subjects with benefits mainly observed in the morning. Further studies are needed with a larger sample in order to confirm these results.

Influence of plantar cutaneous sensitivity on daily fluctuations of postural control and gait in institutionalized older adults: a hierarchical cluster analysis.

The aim of this study was to characterize daily fluctuations in postural control, gait and plantar cutaneous sensitivity in institutionalized older adults. Twenty-five older adults (>85 years old) living in a nursing home were recruited. Postural, gait and plantar cutaneous sensitivity parameters were collected at the following times: 8:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00. Statistics were first calculated with the data from the whole group of the participants. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed as a second step in order to determine if there was more than one pattern in the daily fluctuations of gait, postural control and plantar cutaneous sensitivity. When considering data from the whole group, results showed that postural control deteriorated from morning to the early afternoon and that gait improved from early to late morning. Daily fluctuations of plantar cutaneous sensitivity showed a decrease in tactile acuity in the afternoon. For most gait, postural control and plantar cutaneous sensitivity parameters, the hierarchical cluster analysis showed that there were three subgroups within the whole group of participants who had similar fluctuation patterns. Participants with the best tactile acuity, postural control and gait displayed relatively constant patterns without a period of increased risk of falling. By contrast, participants who presented a poor tactile acuity with a less efficient postural control and gait had greater daily fluctuations of plantar cutaneous sensitivity, with a marked decline of postural control and gait in the afternoon. In spite of a strong relationship between plantar cutaneous sensitivity and gait/postural control, the decline in postural control and gait observed in the afternoon could not be related to plantar sensation. It might rather relate to a cognitive function which is known to peak early in human circadian rhythms and to have a greater contribution in postural control regulation in the elderly than in young healthy subjects.

Optimization of the Effects of Physical Activity on Plantar Sensation and Postural Control With Barefoot Exercises in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Increasing somatosensory information from the foot by exercising barefoot can potentially optimize the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions on falls prevention in the older adults. This pilot study was then undertaken to explore the effects of increased somatosensory information from the foot by exercising barefoot on balance, gait, and plantar cutaneous sensitivity in institutionalized older adults involved in multimodal exercise intervention. Participants were assigned to three groups: a control group which did not perform any physical exercise and two groups in which they were involved in a multimodal exercise program performed barefoot or shod. Postural, gait, and plantar cutaneous sensitivity parameters were collected. The results showed that the exercise program produced larger effects on balance and plantar cutaneous sensitivity when exercises were performed barefoot, without any noticeable effect on gait. Hence, barefoot exercising could be a relevant means to optimize the fall-prevention exercise programs in institutionalized older adults.