Research Highlights VR Fitness as Effective as Cardio Exercises

Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness

A recent study suggests Supernatural, a virtual reality fitness platform by META, is as effective as traditional cardio workouts like running, boxing, and swimming. Conducted by Dr. Ryan Rhodes and his team at the University of Victoria, Canada, the research demonstrates that VR fitness can deliver comparable results to conventional exercises, validating its potential for both physical and mental health benefits.

Participants in the study engaged in exercises such as boxing and batting using the Supernatural VR app on the Meta Quest headset. For instance, one participant, wearing a VR headset, performed boxing moves by jabbing, dodging, and swaying to tag moving, color-coordinated targets. Another participant swung bats at differently colored targets, requiring them to reach, lunge, or squat to hit the mark. Both exercises resulted in a substantial workout.

The study involved 24 individuals over two sessions, measuring their heart rates, calories burned, and mood changes. The results, published in JMIR Serious Games, showed that the VR app could serve as an effective form of physical activity, with similar outcomes to running or high-intensity interval workouts. Notably, the VR workouts qualified as vigorous activity, meaning users could achieve their recommended 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week in half the time typically required for 150 minutes of moderate activity.

Supernatural's various workouts were found to be equivalent to several traditional forms of exercise. For example, Supernatural Flow offers a full-body cardio workout comparable to running, while Supernatural Boxing matches the intensity of real-life boxing, medium-intensity bicycling, sparring, or aerobic dancing.

Participants in the study reported feeling more vigorous, full of energy, and active after their sessions. This suggests that VR fitness apps like Supernatural can serve as a "gateway activity," encouraging users to get active in a safe, private setting. The research team continues to explore related areas, including self-regulation, emotion regulation, habit formation, and how a sense of identity around physical activity can promote long-term, active lifestyles.

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