Acute Affective Responses to Virtual Reality Exercise: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial.

Virtual reality (VR) exercise aims to offer positive affective and sensory experiences through an immersive experience rich in audiovisual stimuli. Notwithstanding, there is a paucity of large sample size studies comparing the acute effects of VR exercise compared with a matched exercise performed in a non-VR environment. The study compared the acute effects of a VR exercise session versus a matched non-VR exercise session in effect, pleasure, enjoyment, perceived exertion, and heart rate. This is a crossover randomized clinical trial. The time, difficulty, and exercise type of the non-VR exercise were matched to VR exercise. Before and immediately after each session, participants responded to the Borg's Perceived Exertion Scale, the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale, and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. The analyses were conducted with Generalized Linear Models, Wilcoxon's, and T-test for paired samples. A total of 83 adults (40 females) aged 35.46 years were included in the study. Participants in the VR condition had a greater increase in affect (mean change difference = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83-1.06, P < 0.001), arousal (mean change difference = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.23-9.50, P < 0.001). The pleasure and enjoyment median after the VR session were higher. In conclusion, the immersive VR exercise was more strenuous, but resulted in a better affective response, greater pleasure, and enjoyment.

Association between physical activity and global functioning in individuals with mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Physical activity is associated with better global functioning in the general population and in people with physical conditions. However, there is no meta-analytic evidence on the associations between daily physical activity levels and global functioning in people with mental disorders. The objective of the present meta-analysis therefore was to evaluate the associations between daily physical activity levels and global functioning in individuals with mental disorders. Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO and SPORTdiscus were searched from inception to August 1st, 2022. Risk of bias was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tools. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Ten studies were identified and six were meta-analyzed including 251 adults (39.2 ± 11.9 years, 33.6% of women). The pooled results from six studies found a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.39, 95% CI 0.242 to 0.528, p<0.001, I²=49.3%) between daily physical activity and global functioning. Three out of four studies not included in the meta-analysis also found significant associations between physical activity and global functioning. The current meta-analysis demonstrated a moderate association between daily physical activity and global functioning in individuals with mental disorders. However, the evidence is based on cross-sectional studies and a causal relationship cannot be established. High-quality longitudinal studies aiming to address this relationship should be conducted.

Evaluation of knee range of motion: Correlation between measurements using a universal goniometer and a smartphone goniometric application.

BACKGROUND: Goniometers are commonly used to measure range of motion in the musculoskeletal system. Recently smartphone goniometry applications have become available to clinicians. OBJECTIVE: Compare angular measures using a universal goniometer and a smartphone application. METHODS: Thirty four healthy women with at least 20° of limited range of motion regarding knee extension were recruited. Knee flexion angles of the dominant limb were measured with a universal goniometer and the ROM© goniometric application for the smartphone. Three trained examiners compared the two assessment tools. RESULTS: Strong correlations were found between the measures of the universal goniometer and smartphone application (Pearson's correlation and interclass correlation coefficient > 0.93). The measurements with both devices demonstrated low dispersion and little variation. CONCLUSION: Measurements obtained using the smartphone goniometric application analyzed are as reliable as those of a universal goniometer. This application is therefore a useful tool for the evaluation of knee range of motion.