What is the best type of physical activity one can practice? The answer is conclusive: one that you enjoy enough to do it daily. Active video games, also known as exergames, are a high-tech fitness strategy that could help some people become more active and stay healthy.
Exergames offer workouts for muscle strengthening, balance and stretching games, aerobic and dance exercises, martial arts, and simulated recreational activities such as golf, skiing, and more. Obviously, these are moderate workouts that help and complement, though they should not be the foundation.
“They offer you the type of moderate-intensity activity that everyone should be doing at least daily,” explains Harvard. Some gyms and centers for older adults are incorporating exergames into their facilities, which speaks to their virtues and capacity to attract new fitness participants.
Exergames are video games that translate body movements into targets for a game and can be used to improve users’ health. Exergaming is an emerging new form of exercise that could improve physical activity and psychosocial well-being, according to studies.
The scientific literature has documented various health benefits for exergame users. Until a few years ago, studies had not examined whether playing exergames can improve quality of life, but in recent times a very interesting scholarly literature on the subject has begun to surface.
Do Exergames Work?
Exergames are video games that combine entertainment and body movement on a video device, such as a television screen or a computer monitor. They are useful tools for increasing exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure.
A review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health noted: «Playing exergames generates energy expenditure, which yields positive psychological benefits. In addition, playing exergames significantly improves users’ attitude toward other forms of exercise and motivates them to practice it, which presents health benefits, demonstrating the value of exergames».
This same publication pointed out that its practice «may have an effect similar to conventional exercise» and more specifically «may promote participation in physical activities». «Playing exergames can reduce pressure sensitivity and pain, and help motivate prosocial behaviors. In addition, playing exergames can promote a positive mood and trigger health-related behavior changes. Therefore, exergames are considered a form of exercise to improve health», it explained.
Woman with a sporty look.
The authors of the review estimated that exergames can promote changes in healthy habits and facilitate positive psychosocial outcomes, identifying the key elements that «facilitate social interaction», in addition to «generate a sense of presence, enjoyment and mood improvement, contributing to a greater amount and diversity of rewards that impact the users’ experience».
Conclusions about Exergames
Another recent study from Salento University in Italy contributed that «the results indicate that exergames are fun and can provide benefits for physical fitness and physical activity». This particular work aimed to promote the introduction of exergame systems in primary and secondary schools to improve conditional skills and increase student enjoyment.
That said, researchers from Salento University highlighted in their final conclusion something that no one should forget: «Exergames can be excellent allies for an active lifestyle, but they should not fully substitute traditional physical activity». They are an excellent way to stay active with fun exercise at any age that should ultimately be seen as a complement to a main physical activity.
