Physical Activity LevelsNCT06902727
Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Promoting Physical Activity and Health Among College Students
A study testing VR-based exercise bike and Usual routine in people with Physical Activity Levels and Cardiovascular Fitness, run by The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week immersive-virtual reality (VR) exercise bike intervention on college students' physiological outcomes (physical activity levels, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition) and psychological outcomes (situational motivation, situational… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Activity Levels, Cardiovascular Fitness, Body Composition
- What is being tested?
- VR-based exercise bike and Usual routine
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 28 Sep 2020to 1 Jul 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- College students age from 18 to 35 years old who are currently enrolled in the university
- College students without diagnosed physical and/or mental disabilities
- Must be willing to provide informed consent and compete the PA Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
- Must be willing to be randomized into an intervention or control group
- no self-reported motion sickness symptoms during immersive VR-based exercise
Who cannot join
- Students under the age of 18 or over the age of 35 years old or not currently enrolled in the university
- Having self-reported physical and/or mental disabilities
- Contradictions to PA participation as determined by PAR-Q responses
- having motion sickness reaction when exercising under VR-based condition.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
About this study
Official title: Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Promoting Physical Activity and Health Among College Students: A 4-week Randomized Controlled Trial
The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week immersive-virtual reality (VR) exercise bike intervention on college students' physiological outcomes (physical activity levels, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition) and psychological outcomes (situational motivation, situational interest, mood states, and depressive symptoms).
- Conditions
- Physical Activity Levels, Cardiovascular Fitness, Body Composition, Situational Motivation, Situational Interest, Mood States
- Being tested
- VR-based exercise bike, Usual routine
- Keywords
- Exergaming, Physical Activity, Virtual Reality, Video games, VR games, Physical Activity Levels, Cardiovascular fitness
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
VR-based exercise bikeDevice
For the intervention group, participations exercised on an immersive VR-based exercise bike for one hour, twice per week, for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group were asked to maintain their usual routine after the baseline test for 4 weeks. Participants were scheduled separately coming to lab for the post-test after 4 weeks and all participants received the identical assessments in aforementioned physiological and psychological outcomes.
Usual routineOther
Participants were asked to maintain their usual activities, without engaging in any other physical activity intervention during the 4-week study period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise on immersive VR-based bike | Experimental | Participants were asked to exercise on an immersive VR-based exercise bike for one hour per session, two times per week, for 4 weeks Receives: Device: VR-based exercise bike |
| Usual routine | Active comparator | Participants in the control group were asked to maintain their usual routine after the baseline test for 4 weeks. Participants were scheduled separately coming to lab for the post-test after 4 weeks and all participants received the identical assessments in aforementioned physiological and psychological outcomes. Receives: Other: Usual routine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Exercise Motivation
Participants' motivation were assessed by the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnire-2 (BREQ-2). The BREQ-2 has 19 items assessing the continuum of behavioral regulation in exercise, which included amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic regulation.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Mood States
Participants' mood states were measured by the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). The BRUMS assesses mood across six subscales (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigor) using a 24-item questionnaire with responses ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely).
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Depressive Symptoms
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess participant's depressive symptoms. This is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. The total score was calculated to the evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Cardiovascular fitness levels
Investigators asked participants to step on and off of a 12-inch plyometric box for 3 minutes to the "beep" of a metronome set to 96 beats-per-minute, with each beep corresponding with one leg movement. Immediately following the completion of the test, the principal investigator measured participants' heart rate for 60 seconds via palpation of the radial artery on the underbelly of the left wrist.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Physical activity levels
Physical activity levels were assessed via International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The IPAQ assesses three specific types of activity: walking, moderate-intensity activities, and vigorous-intensity activities. It asks participants to recall the time (in minutes) spent on each of these activities in the past 7 days.
Each participant were assigned an accelerometer to wear during each 60-minute exercise session. Prior to the start of the intervention, participants were asked to wear an accelerometer for one week for measuring their physical activity levels. In addition, the investigators asked participants to wear the accelerometer for another week at the completion of 4-week intervention.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Body Mass Index
Participant height (cm) and weight (kg) were measured using a stadiometer and a Tanita BC-558 IRONMAN Segmental Body Composition Monitor, respectively, in theUniversity of Minnesota's Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory. Both height and weight were used to calculate BMI in kg/m². BMI was classified according to the following indicators: Underweight: BMI < 18.5; Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9; Overweight: BMI 25-29.9; Obesity: BMI ≥ 30.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Percent of body fat
Percent of body fat (%BF) were measured by Tanita BC-558 IRONMAN Segmental Body Composition Monitor.
Measured: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Mar 2025
- Study start28 Sep 2020
- Primary completion1 Nov 2020
- Study completion1 Jul 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Physical Activity LevelsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Minnesota
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zan Gao, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06902727
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00010580
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 3 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 30 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified participant data, including primary and secondary outcomes, and relevant demographic will be made publicly available. Data will be accessible through a public data repository. Researchers interested in accessing these datasets can request or directly download them via https://www.openicpsr.org/openicpsr/project/223741/version/V1/view
Publications
Liu W, McDonough DJ, Oginni J, Mavoungou J, Gao Z. Effects of an Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Intervention on Psychological and Physiological Outcomes in College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2025 Dec 15;13:e75777. doi: 10.2196/75777.
PubMed 41307454
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Virtual Reality Exercise on Promoting Physical Activity and Health Among College Students: A 4-week Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06902727
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00010580
- Conditions
- Physical Activity Levels, Cardiovascular Fitness, Body Composition, Situational Motivation, Situational Interest, Mood States
- Keywords
- Exergaming, Physical Activity, Virtual Reality, Video games, VR games, Physical Activity Levels, Cardiovascular fitness
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Minnesota
- Study start
- 28 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week immersive-virtual reality (VR) exercise bike intervention on college students' physiological outcomes (physical activity levels, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition) and psychological outcomes (situational motivation, situational interest, mood states, and depressive symptoms).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise on immersive VR-based bike | Experimental | Device: VR-based exercise bikeParticipants were asked to exercise on an immersive VR-based exercise bike for one hour per session, two times per week, for 4 weeks |
| Usual routine | Active comparator | Other: Usual routineParticipants in the control group were asked to maintain their usual routine after the baseline test for 4 weeks. Participants were scheduled separately coming to lab for the post-test after 4 weeks and all participants received the identical assessments in aforementioned physiological and psychological outcomes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- College students age from 18 to 35 years old who are currently enrolled in the university
- College students without diagnosed physical and/or mental disabilities
- Must be willing to provide informed consent and compete the PA Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
- Must be willing to be randomized into an intervention or control group
- no self-reported motion sickness symptoms during immersive VR-based exercise
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Students under the age of 18 or over the age of 35 years old or not currently enrolled in the university
- Having self-reported physical and/or mental disabilities
- Contradictions to PA participation as determined by PAR-Q responses
- having motion sickness reaction when exercising under VR-based condition.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| VR-based exercise bikeFor the intervention group, participations exercised on an immersive VR-based exercise bike for one hour, twice per week, for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group were asked to maintain their usual routine after the baseline test for 4 weeks. Participants were scheduled separately coming to lab for the post-test after 4 weeks and all participants received the identical assessments in aforementioned physiological and psychological outcomes. | Device | Exercise on immersive VR-based bike |
| Usual routineParticipants were asked to maintain their usual activities, without engaging in any other physical activity intervention during the 4-week study period. | Other | Usual routine |
Primary outcome
Exercise Motivation
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Participants' motivation were assessed by the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnire-2 (BREQ-2). The BREQ-2 has 19 items assessing the continuum of behavioral regulation in exercise, which included amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic regulation.
Mood States
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Participants' mood states were measured by the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). The BRUMS assesses mood across six subscales (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigor) using a 24-item questionnaire with responses ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely).
Depressive Symptoms
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess participant's depressive symptoms. This is a 21-item, self-report rating inventory that measures characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. The total score was calculated to the evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms.
4 secondary outcomes
Cardiovascular fitness levels
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Physical activity levels
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Body Mass Index
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Percent of body fat
Time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Mar 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41307454Liu W, McDonough DJ, Oginni J, Mavoungou J, Gao Z. Effects of an Immersive Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Intervention on Psychological and Physiological Outcomes in College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2025 Dec 15;13:e75777. doi: 10.2196/75777.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified participant data, including primary and secondary outcomes, and relevant demographic will be made publicly available. Data will be accessible through a public data repository. Researchers interested in accessing these datasets can request or directly download them via https://www.openicpsr.org/openicpsr/project/223741/version/V1/view
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing VR-based exercise bike and Usual routine in people with Physical Activity Levels and Cardiovascular Fitness, run by The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Exercise Motivation (time frame: Baseline, and 4 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06902727, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Mar 2025.