Are video games actually exercise?

Angela TaylorBellwood-Antis High School

10th Grade

Problem

• I want to find out if certain video games can increase your heart rate as much as walking does. I like video games and want to know if they can be considered exercise.

Background Information• Claims about games:

– DDR states “Get in shape with workout mode!”

– Cedric Bryant, chief executive physiologist for the American Council on Exercise: “It [DDR] can be very strenuous and can really get your heart rate up.”

– Iowa newspaper: “Guitar Hero video game provides new gaming hooks, fun exercise.”

– Studies have shown that Wii Sports games raised the heart rates of seniors.

Background Information

• Resting heart rate– Number of times per minute the heart beats

while at rest– Found 2 places: carotid artery in neck or

radial pulse at the wrist

Adrenaline

• Also called epinephrine• Hormone released by adrenal glands• Response to physical or mental distress• Causes increase in heart rate• More is secreted as exercise intensity

increases

What raises heart rate?

• Effects of adrenaline:– Exercise causes cells to need more oxygen– To deliver oxygen faster, heart beats faster– Adrenaline helps your heart beat faster

Hypothesis

• I think that Dance Dance Revolution will increase heart rate the most, because it is the most vigorous activity.

• DDR is the most intense exercise I am testing

• More intense exercise=more adrenaline released

• Adrenaline raises heart rate

General Procedure

• Have subjects lay on the ground for 15 minutes, then take their pulse

• Have them walk on a treadmill for 15 minutes

• Take their pulse again and subtract to find the increase in heart rate

• Repeat the experiment with Guitar Hero, Wii Sports, and DDR

Procedure: Set up• Step 1: Obtain signed consent form from

subject.• Step 2: Instruct the person lie down on the

ground, close their eyes and relax.• Step 3: Wait 15 minutes. While subject is

resting, prepare the video game for testing (set up song, level, etc.) Have volume muted during this time.

Procedure: Take pulse

• Step 4: When 15 minutes are up, take the person’s pulse:

A. Find the radial pulse located in the right wrist

B. Count beats per minute for one minuteC. Record

Procedure: Test Game

• Step 5: After pulse has been recorded, have subject stand up and take the position necessary for the test.

• Step 6: Begin the test and start timer for 15 minutes at the same time.

Procedure: Record Data• Step 7: When 15 minutes are up, have the

subject immediately lie down and take pulse again using the procedure stated.

• Step 8: Record pulse in beats per minute.• Step 9: Subtract to find change in heart rate. • Step 10: Repeat experiment with each

experimental group, being sure 15 minutes of rest time are allowed between each test.

Procedure: Record Data• Step 7: When 15 minutes are up, have the

subject immediately lie down and take pulse again using the procedure stated.

• Step 8: Record pulse in beats per minute.• Step 9: Subtract to find change in heart rate. • Step 10: Repeat experiment with each

experimental group, being sure 15 minutes of rest time are allowed between each test.

Experimental Design

• Experimental Variable– Different video games

• Experimental Groups– DDR, Wii Sports, Guitar Hero

• Control Group– Walking

Control Variables

• Activity:– Same song/course played – Same speed setting on treadmill– Exercise done at same time of day– Same volume level

• Test subjects:– All subjects within same age range (14-16 yrs)

Control Variables

Time:– 15 minutes of resting time between activities– 15 minutes spent on each activity– Pulse counted for one minute

• Heart rate:– Radial pulse is used– Found in right wrist

Change in Heart Rate (BPM) Subject # Treadmill Wii GH DDR

1 6 10 -6 56

2 7 7 -4 18

3 10 7 7 25

4 8 12 9 15

5 27 3 4 7

6 22 14 0 25

7 6 10 15

8 9 2 7 3

9 0 -6 -3 7

10 3 0 7 1

11 6 12 3 19

12 1 1 10 8

13 5 16 14 28

Average Change (BPM)

Treadmill Wii Sports Guitar Hero DDR

8.7 6.5 4.5 17.5

Graph: Average Change in BPM

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

1 2 3 4

Cha

nge

in B

eats

per

Min

ute

Treadmill Wii Guitar Hero DDR

Percent of ChangeSubject # Treadmill Wii GH DDR

1 8 14 -8 802 11 12 -7 243 15 11 11 394 13 20 14 255 35 4 5 96 32 22 0 367 7 13 208 13 3 10 49 0 -9 -5 11

10 4 0 10 111 8 16 4 2512 1 1 14 1013 7 21 20 38

Average 12.3 9.4 6.2 24.8St. Dev. ±11.0 ±9.4 ±8.9 ±20.9

Percent of Change

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

Treadmill Wii GH DDR

Aver

age

Perc

ent I

ncre

ase

in H

eart

Ra

te

RankingSubject # Treadmill Wii GH DDR

1 2 3 1 42 2 2 1 33 2 1 1 34 1 3 2 45 4 1 2 36 3 2 1 478 4 1 3 29 3 1 2 4

10 3 1 4 211 2 3 1 412 1 1 2 313 1 3 2 4

Average 2.3 1.8 1.8 3.3St.Dev. ±1.1 ±0.9 ±0.9 ±0.8

A lower number means the test had less of an effect on the subject’s heart rate

Ranking Graph

A lower number means the test had less of an effect on the subject’s heart rate

Aver

age

Ran

king

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

1 2 3 4

Aver

age

Rank

ing

Treadmill Wii Guitar Hero DDR

Conclusion• My data does not support my hypothesis• The effect of each activity is different on

each person

Other Factors• Couldn’t control skill level, which affected

performance– Some found the games easier and didn’t have

to try as hard– Exerted less effort

• Experience level– Higher experience level: less likely to be

surprised/excited by the games– Release less adrenaline

Other Factors

• Speed was always the same on the treadmill, but not everyone was the same height– Shorter people had to walk faster than taller

people to keep up

Further Study

• Research the effects of other factors:– Height– Weight– Gender– Age– Athletic ability

• Survey

Bibliography• http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/

2007/01/08/fyi/20070108-archive0.txt. 12/31/09.• http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/

boomer-health/articles/2009/06/05/ interactive-video-games-offer-exercise-benefits.html. 1/3/10.

• http://anatomyphysiology.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_does_adrenaline_work. 1/3/10.

• http://www.lycos.com/info/epinephrine.html. 1/16/10.

• http://btc.montana.edu/Olympics/physiology/cf02.html. 1/16/10.

Standard Deviation

(Xav-Xi)2

N-1

• = Sum

• Xav = Average

• Xi = Trial

• N = # of Trials

(9.3-8.7)2+(9.3-6.5)2+(9.3-4.5)2+(9.3-17.5)2

4-1