Adaptive Control of Cardio-respiratory Training in a Virtual Reality Hiking Simulation: A Feasibility Study

Adaptive Virtual Reality applications are a novel way to enhance and promote higher levels of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness, leading to a healthier lifestyle and avoid cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we developed a system using a virtual hiking simulator, the Levadas from Madeira Island, that aims to increase the compliance of recommendations levels of exertion by implementing a closed-loop adaptation according to the heart rate. The system was tested with a sample of twenty healthy young adults on a repeated measures design, comparing the adaptive VR, a non-adaptive VR version of the software, and a non-VR version. Perceived exertion, presence, usability and intrinsic motivation were assessed. The results from the study reveal that the adaptive control according to the heart rate promoted approximately 20% more time of exertion in the recommended target heart rate zone, while perceiving lower levels of exertion by the participants, compared to the non-adaptive condition.