Exploring Physiological Responses of Virtual Reality Walking Exercise Versus Treadmill Walking in Healthy Individuals

The study included two intervention groups, consisting of participants who met the inclusion criteria and adhered to the experimental procedures. One group will do treadmill walking exercises, while the other will do treadmill walking exercises using virtual reality (VR). Both interventions were conducted in a single session, with each group participating in a 20-minute walking exercise session at a moderate intensity, as identified by other studies.

Walking on the treadmill with the Free Run game on the Nintendo Wii allows users to walk at 5 miles per hour for 20 minutes. The user gets on the Wii Balance Board and starts walking in the virtual environment after running the application. The application detects the user's movements and controls the progress of the virtual character. During this experience, users increase their motivation by encountering various landscapes while tracking their performance and getting information about the calories they spend. This setup provides a fun, game-like atmosphere for a realistic walking experience.